Fourth-quarter U.S. GDP up just 1.4%, badly missing estimate

CNBC Television | February 20, 2026 at 02:16 PM UTC
Bearish 95% Confidence
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Key Points

  • Q4 GDP came in at 1.4%, significantly below the 2.8% estimate, marking the lowest GDP since Q1 2025.
  • December PCE prices (month-over-month) were +0.4% (vs. +0.3% est.) and Core PCE prices (year-over-year) were +3.0% (vs. +2.8% est.), both hotter than expected.
  • Consumption growth also slowed to 2.4%, and Treasury yields saw some movement, with the 2-year at 3.468% and 10-year at 4.067%.

AI Summary

Rick Santelli reports on key economic data, highlighting a significant miss in Q4 GDP at 1.4% versus an estimated 2.8%, indicating weaker economic growth. December PCE inflation metrics, both month-over-month and year-over-year, came in hotter than expected, suggesting persistent inflationary pressures. This combination of slowing growth and sticky inflation is leading to a negative market reaction, with futures trading lower.

Model Analysis Breakdown

Model Sentiment Confidence
Gemini 2.5 Flash Bearish 95%
Consensus Bearish 95%