2016 proved to be a really bad year for the US economy.
In the 4th Qtr the economy grew at an anemic 1.9% but that was trying to lift the year which was even worse totally at 1.6%. The economy slowed from 2015 which already was not a great year for the economy.
The economy was the worse since 2011.
https://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2017/pdf/gdp4q16_adv.pdf
