FITCH RAISES U.S. GROWTH FORECAST, SEES TWO FED CUTS IN 1H26 Fitch Ratings raised its estimate of U.S. GDP growth to 2.1% in 2025 and its 2026 forecast to 2.0%, citing stronger-than-expected late-2025 data released after the government shutdown. Growth in 3Q25 beat expectations, driven by consumption, government spending, and trade, while IT investment remained a key contributor. Fitch expects inflation to rise to 3.2% by end-2026 as tariffs filter through, with unemployment averaging 4.6%. The agency forecasts two Federal Reserve rate cuts in the first half of 2026, bringing the policy rate to 3.25%.(*Walter Bloomberg)