U.S. Q3 Growth Strong, Inflation High Ahead of Midterms

Government reports released Thursday indicate the U.S. economy expanded during the July-September quarter. Simultaneously, inflation data for the final month of that period remained elevated. This mixed economic picture arrives less than one week before the midterm elections. High living costs have become a central issue for voters in these contests.

The data points to a complex economic environment. While growth was strong, the persistence of high inflation complicates the narrative. Voters will weigh these figures alongside other campaign messages in the coming days. The timing places economic performance at the forefront of the political debate.

In other developments, President Donald Trump is campaigning in South Carolina. He is urging Republicans to vote for Darline Graham in a key Senate race. Trump also cast doubt on whether Alaska's Democratic Senate candidate would be seated if she won. He cited accusations that her campaign recruited a candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan.

Internationally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his party have intensified claims that the country's election was stolen. They attribute the loss to Arab-led parties. In Spain, concerns over rail safety have resurfaced after a second high-speed train crash this year killed 69 people.

In corporate news, DoorDash has offered $17 billion to acquire Instacart. The move aims to strengthen its grocery delivery business and represents a major consolidation in the sector. Meanwhile, three news outlets have told a federal court that the White House is defying a judge's orders. The administration refuses to let these outlets return to covering the president.

In the legal arena, an Egyptian man pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and other charges. He was involved in a deadly firebombing attack on demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, last year. In Michigan, Democrats remain divided over Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed following a contentious primary.