The U.S. faces weakness overseas and the waning effects of the 2017 tax cuts
Economists believe growth has slowed further in the current January-March quarter to around 1.5%
Consumer spending accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic activity
Find out why most business economists have lowered their growth forecasts since last quarter
Some economists expect inflation to pick up as the benefits of higher wages flow through the economy
Growth could fall below a 1% annual rate in the first three months of this year
A harsh winter may have contributed to U.S. employers adding just 20,000 jobs
The S&P 500 has gained about 309% since bottoming out in March 2009
But consumers will likely continue to drive economic expansion later this year
The decline is the result of a "temporary shock" from the government shutdown