Is the US economy good or bad right now?

Mixed — the U.S. economy looks more “okay but cooling” than clearly good or bad right now.

The good: the economy is still growing. Real GDP rose at a 1.6% annual rate in Q1 2026, which points to continued expansion rather than recession.

The bad: 1.6% growth is modest, not booming. It suggests the economy has slowed from stronger growth periods, and some forecasters are warning about a possible hard landing if growth weakens further.

Bottom line: if you judge by GDP alone, the economy is not “bad” right now. But it also does not look especially strong. For households, the answer may feel different depending on jobs, wages, prices, debt costs, rent, and local conditions.