Two other key elements will take the focus as investors digest the GDP report: the state of consumer spending, which accounted for about two-thirds of all activity in Q3, and inflation, specifically how the Federal Reserve might react to personal consumption prices that come out of Thursday’s report as well as a separate Commerce Department release Friday.

“We do expect the economy to slow … further in 2024 as the impact of monetary tightening continues to weigh on economic activities,” said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at tax consultancy RSM. “However, we do not expect the economy to hit a recession.”