Third-Quarter GDP Tops Forecast at 3.9% Growth Rate

The U.S. economy expanded at a 3.9 % annual growth rate in the third quarter, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

The level was greater than the 3.8% in the second quarter and topped economists’ forecasts of a 3.1% increase, Bloomberg reported.

The report comes in advance of the Federal Reserve’s meeting Wednesday at which Fed governors are expected to lower the benchmark interest rate, Bloomberg said.