US real gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 1.4% in the first quarter, according to the third estimate of GDP growth released today by the US Commerce Department.

The new estimate is up from a second estimate that pegged growth at 1.2% and double the initial “advance” estimate of 0.7% growth.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, real GDP increased 2.1%.

MarketWatch reported the improved first-quarter GDP report stems mostly from stronger exports and an increase in what consumers spent on healthcare and financial services.

“The main surprise in Q1 was a larger than expected upward revision to consumption,” Ted Wieseman, an economist at Morgan Stanley, told Reuters.

Growth in the staffing industry is strongly correlated with GDP growth, according to research from Staffing Industry Analysts.

Separately, the US Department of Labor today reported the seasonally adjusted four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance fell to 242,250 last week, down 2,750 from the previous week’s upwardly revised average.

The previous week’s average was revised up by 250.

The four-week moving average decreases the volatility of the weekly numbers. Total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended June 24 rose to 244,000, up 2,000 from the previous week’s level, which was revised upward by 1,000.

No special factors affected this week’s initial claims.

CNBC reports economists polled by Reuters had forecast first-time applications for jobless claims declining to 240,000. While the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits edged up last week, the underlying trend remained consistent with a tight labor market.