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IMF sees ‘buoyant’ US economy accelerating this year but warns of risks from tariffs, rising debt

WASHINGTON (AP) — A “buoyant” U.S. economy is poised to see accelerated growth and lower unemployment this year. But big federal budget debts ”represent a growing stability risk,” the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday.

The 191-country lending organization’s assessment of the world’s biggest economy was mostly positive. The IMF saw U.S. gross domestic product — the country’s output of goods and services — growing 2.4% in fourth-quarter 2026 from the last three months of 2025, up from 2.2% growth the year before.

It sees U.S. unemployment dropping from 4.5% in late 2025 to 4.1% in 2026 and inflation falling to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target by 2027. IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said the Fed, which cut its benchmark interest rate three times in 2025, could afford to push it down to around 3.4% from 3.6% currently. But it should hold off on deeper cuts barring a “material worsening” in the American job market, she said.

The United States has been helped by strong productivity growth. But Georgieva said the U.S. economy would have performed even better without President Donald Trump’s big taxes on foreign imports. The fund’s report warned that the president’s protectionist trade policies “could represent a larger-than-expected drag on activity.”

The IMF expressed concern about the federal government’s debts, which it sees rising steadily from just under 100% of U.S. GDP last year to almost 110% by 2031.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
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