Next week promises to be significant in the business and economic landscape, with several key events and indicators on the horizon.

**General Motors Financial Results**
On Tuesday, General Motors is scheduled to unveil its financial performance for the fourth quarter. Wall Street anticipates that the automaker will report earnings of $1.82 per share, alongside revenues of approximately $44.6 billion. In its prior quarter, GM posted a substantial profit of $3 billion, buoyed by a revenue increase of 10% that brought in $48.8 billion. Following the positive news from that earnings report, GM’s stock experienced a notable surge of 10%, climbing above $53 per share.

**Federal Reserve Meeting Insights**
The Federal Reserve will conclude a two-day policy meeting on Wednesday. Analysts generally predict that the central bank will refrain from making any changes to its benchmark interest rate, especially after implementing three consecutive cuts earlier aimed at closing out 2024. Recent commentary from Fed officials highlighted global economic uncertainties and persistent inflationary pressures. Consequently, they revised their forecasts for possible rate reductions in 2025, lowering the anticipated cuts from four to just two. As a result, borrowing costs for consumers and businesses may continue to be high well into this year.

**U.S. Economic Growth Projections**
On Thursday, the Commerce Department is set to release its preliminary estimate of economic growth in the U.S. for the fourth quarter. Analysts are projecting that the economy expanded by 2.3% during this period. Despite ongoing high-interest rates and inflation rates that exceed the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, the national economy has shown resilience, with strong consumer spending playing a crucial role in its stability.

Here’s a snapshot of the projected GDP changes on a seasonally adjusted annual rate, broken down by quarter:
– Q3 2023: 4.4%
– Q4 2023: 3.2%
– Q1 2024: 1.6%
– Q2 2024: 3.0%
– Q3 2024: 3.1%
– Q4 2024 (est.): 2.3%

This upcoming week will be pivotal for investors and analysts alike, as the results and discussions could have far-reaching implications for markets and the broader economy.