Western, Southeastern states see economic bumps in first quarter

The first quarter of 2026 saw a 2.1% national increase in economic output, with Western and Southeastern states leading the charge, while the agricultural Midwest experienced a decline. This GDP growth, released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, highlights regional economic disparities and underscores the differing impacts of national economic policies. The data suggests that factors like tech and service industries are driving the economic surge in these areas, which could have significant implications for future economic planning and policy-making across the country.