U.S. GDP Rose 1.6% Rate in 1Q

By David Uberti

U.S. economic growth slowed in the first part of the year, falling short of economists' expectations.

Gross domestic product expanded at a 1.6% seasonally- and inflation-adjusted annual rate in the first quarter, the Commerce Department said Thursday, a pullback from the previous period.

Growth in the first quarter lagged behind the 2.4% projected by economists polled by The Wall Street Journal.

Write to David Uberti at david.uberti@wsj.com