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Friday, April 26, 2019

BEA: Real GDP increased at 3.2% Annualized Rate in Q1

by Calculated Risk on 4/26/2019 08:34:00 AM

From the BEA: Gross Domestic Product, First Quarter 2019 (Advance Estimate)

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.2 percent in the first quarter of 2019, according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2018, real GDP increased 2.2 percent....

The increase in real GDP in the first quarter reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE), private inventory investment, exports, state and local government spending, and nonresidential fixed investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased. These contributions were partly offset by a decrease in residential investment.

The acceleration in real GDP growth in the first quarter reflected an upturn in state and local government spending, accelerations in private inventory investment and in exports, and a smaller decrease in residential investment. These movements were partly offset by decelerations in PCE and nonresidential fixed investment, and a downturn in federal government spending. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, turned down.
emphasis added
The advance Q1 GDP report, with 2.6% annualized growth, was above expectations.

Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased at 1.2% annualized rate in Q1, down from 3.2% in Q4.   Residential investment (RI) decreased 2.8% in Q1. Equipment investment increased at a 0.2% annualized rate, and investment in non-residential structures decreased at a 0.8% pace.

I'll have more later ...