The “advance” estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2019 increased modestly, up by 2.1 percent at an annualized rate. The real GDP increase largely reflected strong consumer spending, rising by 4.3 percent, its fastest growth in nearly two years. Government spending also grew at its fastest pace in a decade and contributed positively to … [Read more...] about Business Indicators
Business Indicators
Business IndicatorsAugust 2019
The “third” estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2019 remained unchanged, up by 3.1 percent at an annualized rate, from the “second” estimate. U.S. nonfarm employment rebounded sharply after a disappointing gain in May, adding 224,000 jobs in June. Big gains occurred in the professional and business services and healthcare sectors. The … [Read more...] about Business Indicators
Business IndicatorsJuly 2019
The “second” estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2019 was revised down by a 0.1 percentage point to 3.1 percent at an annualized rate compared to the “advance” estimate. The overall picture of economic growth remained the same. The real GDP growth relied largely on temporary factors such as higher private business inventories and reduced … [Read more...] about Business Indicators
Business IndicatorsJune 2019
The “advance” estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2019 increased unexpectedly by 3.2 percent at an annualized rate. Although the growth rate marked its fastest first quarter increase since 2015, the overall real GDP growth included some temporary factors – reduced imports and higher private business inventories. Thus, the unexpected gain … [Read more...] about Business Indicators
Business IndicatorsMay 2019
The “third” estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of 2018 was revised downward by 0.4 percentage points to 2.2 percent at an annualized rate compared to the “initial” estimate. The total nonfarm employment in January and February was revised up, which resulted an additional gain of 14,000 jobs than previously reported. Retail sales in … [Read more...] about Business Indicators
Business IndicatorsApril 2019
The “initial” estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of 2018 produced an annual growth rate of 2.6 percent. Overall, the economy expanded by 2.9 percent in 2018, the strongest growth since 2015, while the trade deficit climbed to the highest level since the Great Recession. Average hourly earnings growth rebounded from 3.1 percent growth in … [Read more...] about Business Indicators
Business IndicatorsMarch 2019
The “third” estimate of the growth rate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter of 2018 fell by 0.1 percent to an annual rate of 3.4 percent compared to the “second” estimate. The revision reflected smaller-than-expected personal consumption expenditure and net exports, which a larger-than-expected private inventory investment partly offset. The overall … [Read more...] about Business Indicators
Business IndicatorsFebruary 2019
The “third” estimate of the growth rate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter of 2018 fell by 0.1 percent to an annual rate of 3.4 percent compared to the “second” estimate. The revision reflected smaller-than-expected personal consumption expenditure and net exports, which a larger-than-expected private inventory investment partly offset. U.S. nonfarm … [Read more...] about Business Indicators
Business IndicatorsJanuary 2019
The “second” estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter of 2018 increased at an annual rate of 3.5 percent. Based on more complete data compared to last month, business investment, including inventory investment, was revised upward, which was offset by smaller estimates of consumer and state and local government spending growth. The overall picture … [Read more...] about Business Indicators
Business Indicators: December 2018
The “first” estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter of 2018 increased at an annual rate of 3.5 percent, a 0.7 percentage point drop from the “final” estimate of the second quarter, yet a faster-than-expected growth rate for the third quarter. Overall, positive contributions from personal consumption spending, private inventory investment, … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: December 2018
Business Indicators: November 2018
The “third” estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2018 increased at an annual rate of 4.2 percent, which remained unchanged from the “second” estimate. The overall picture of GDP growth did not change based on more complete data except that lower-than-expected private inventory investment was offset by small upward movements from most … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: November 2018
Business Indicators: October 2018
The “second” estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2018 rose at an annual rate of 4.2 percent, up by 0.1 percentage point from the prior estimate. The upward revision reflected larger-than-expected business investment, including inventory investment, which was partly offset by smaller-than-expected consumer spending. Real GDP posted the … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: October 2018
Business Indicators: September 2018
The “advance” estimate for U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2018 expanded by a strong 4.1 percent annualized rate, the fastest pace in almost four years. Consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of real GDP, also grew strongly, which probably reflected somewhat the tax cut. U.S. nonfarm employment added a lower-than-expected 157,000 jobs … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: September 2018
Business Indicators: August 2018
The “third” estimate for U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2018 expanded at a 2.0 percent annualized rate, revised down from the second estimate of 2.2 percent. The downward revisions mainly reflected smaller-than-expected private inventory investment and personal consumption expenditure. U.S. nonfarm employment continued its surprising gain by … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: August 2018
Business Indicators: July 2018
The “second” estimate for U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2018 showed growth at an annual rate of 2.2 percent, down by 0.1 percentage point from the previous estimate of 2.3 percent. The downward revisions reflected smaller private inventory investment, residential fixed investment, and net exports, which were partly offset by a larger … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: July 2018
Business Indicators: June 2018
The “advance” estimate for U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2018 rose at an annual rate of 2.3 percent, a slower pace than the previous three consecutive quarters of about 3 percent. The first quarter real GDP growth, however, exceeded the first-quarter growth in recent years. The increase in real GDP largely reflected a moderate growth in … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: June 2018
Business Indicators: May 2018
The “third” estimate for U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of 2017 increased at an annual rate of 2.9 percent, up by 0.4 percentage point from the previous estimate. U.S. nonfarm employment added a disappointing 103,000 jobs in March after the large increase of 326,000 jobs in the last month. The unemployment rate remained at 4.1 percent for the … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: May 2018
Business Indicators: April 2018
The “second” estimate for U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of 2017 rose at an annual rate of 2.5 percent, down slightly from the previous estimate of 2.6 percent. The revision reflected a smaller private inventory investment than previously reported. Consumer spending accelerated to the fastest pace in a year, and business investment, residential … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: April 2018
Business Indicators: March 2018
The “advance” estimate for U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of 2017 increased at an annual rate of 2.6 percent after two consecutive quarters of above 3 percent growth. Average hourly earnings growth accelerated to 2.9 percent year-over year, its largest gain since the Great Recession thanks to a tightening labor market. Retail sales posted strong … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: March 2018
Business Indicators: February 2018
The “third” estimate for U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter of 2017 grew strongly at a 3.2 percent annualized rate, revised down by 0.1 percent from the second estimate of 3.3 percent. The downward revision of 0.1 percent from the second estimate reflected less-than-expected consumer spending, which more than offset the larger-than-expected increase in … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: February 2018