The U.S. economy economy expanded at a strong 4.3% annual rate from July through September as consumer spending, exports and government spending all grew. Tuesday's report from the Commerce Department said U.S. gross domestic product — the economy's total output of goods and services — up from its 3.8% growth rate in the April-June quarter. Analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet forecast growth of 3% in the period. However, inflation remains higher than the Federal Reserve would like. The Fed's favored inflation gauge — called the personal consumption expenditures index, or PCE — climbed to a 2.8% annual pace last quarter, up from 2.1% in the second quarter.

A new study finds that climate change is increasing sugar consumption in the United States. As temperatures rise, Americans, especially those who are poorer and less educated, are drinking more sugary beverages. That results in more than 100 million pounds of added sugar consumed annually compared to preindustrial times. The study, published in Nature Climate Change, shows that sugar intake increases with temperatures between 54 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Researchers analyzed weather and purchase records from 2004 to 2019. They found that low-income families and people working outdoors consume more sugary drinks. This trend could worsen health inequalities as the climate continues to warm.