US growth slows to 1.5% in Q2, down from 2.1%, as AI spending offsets cooling elsewhere

DNyuz—Growth decelerated to an annualized 1.5% in the second quarter, down from 2.1% in the prior quarter, but the slowdown was cushioned by continued strong consumer spending and business investment. The AI infrastructure buildout has emerged as a significant driver propping up growth even as other sectors cool. Separately, a CNN poll found 63% of respondents think the GOP is focusing too little on cost-of-living issues, suggesting the deceleration is already shaping political perception ahead of the midterms. Data cited elsewhere shows 2025 was the weakest growth year in nine years, indicating the slowdown reflects a longer trend rather than a single-quarter blip.

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