The U.S. economy slowed more than expected early this year as weaker business stockpiling and exports offset solid consumer spending and a flurry of housing construction. The nation’s gross domestic product,

For now, though, consumers are ensuring that growth continues. Spending rose at a 2.5 percent rate in the first quarter as low unemployment and rising wages helped shoppers shrug off high interest rates and rising prices.

The nation’s economy slowed sharply last quarter to a 1.6% annual pace in the face of high interest rates, but consumers kept spending at a solid pace.