The US economy grew at a 2% annualized pace in Q1, according to the Commerce Department, while core inflation rose 3.2% year-over-year in March. This growth was softer than expected due to higher prices and the effects of past interest rate hikes. However, energy costs related to the Iran conflict also contributed to this softer growth. Initial jobless claims fell to 189,000 last week, the lowest level since 1969. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 rose as investors bet the economy can continue growing without causing a downturn. Despite this, some experts warn that the headline claims data may not capture the full picture of the job market.