(A man shops at a supermarket on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in New York. The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate by a hefty three-quarters of a point for a second straight time in its most aggressive drive in three decades to tame high inflation. The Fed is tightening credit even while the economy has begun to slow, thereby heightening the risk that its rate hikes will cause a recession later this year or next. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — After going backward from January through March, the U.S. economy probably didn’t do much better in the spring. On Thursday, the government will reveal just how weak economic growth was in the April-June quarter — and perhaps offer clues about whether a recession may be approaching. The report comes at a critical time: On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a sizable three-quarters of a point for a second straight time in its push to conquer the worst inflation outbreak in four decades. The Fed is aiming for a notoriously difficult “soft landing”: A slowdown that manages to rein in rocketing prices without triggering a recession.