Rumors of the economic expansion’s death appear to have been greatly exaggerated. Gross domestic product, the broadest measure of goods and services produced in the economy, rose at a 3.2 percent annual rate in the first three months of the year, the Commerce Department said Friday. That is significantly better than most economists expected, and far better than the dour forecasts of early this year, when many forecast a near stall in growth. (Friday’s figures are preliminary and will be revised at least twice in the months ahead.) Economists warned that the report was inflated by short-term factors and probably overstated the underlying pace of growth. Most anticipate a downshift as the year progresses, and hardly any independent economists expect that President Trump will be able to deliver the 3 percent growth he has promised this year. Still, after a rough winter, the economy appears to have entered the […]