The US economy advanced an annualized 2.6 percent on quarter in the fourth quarter of 2018, beating market expectations of a 2.4 percent growth, the initial estimate showed. It follows a 3.4 percent expansion in the previous period. The increase in real GDP in the fourth quarter reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE), nonresidential fixed investment, exports, private inventory investment, and federal government spending. Those were partly offset by negative contributions from residential fixed investment, and state and local government spending. Imports increased. GDP Growth Rate in the United States averaged 3.22 percent from 1947 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 16.70 percent in the first quarter of 1950 and a record low of -10 percent in the first quarter of 1958.

GDP Growth Rate in the United States is expected to be 1.80 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate GDP Growth Rate in the United States to stand at 2.10 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the United States GDP Growth Rate is projected to trend around 1.90 percent in 2020, according to our econometric models.

United States GDP Growth Rate
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Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-10-26 12:30 PM GDP Growth Rate QoQ Adv 3.5% 4.2% 3.3% 3.1%
2018-11-28 01:30 PM GDP Growth Rate QoQ 2nd Est 3.5% 4.2% 3.5% 3.5%
2018-12-21 01:30 PM GDP Growth Rate QoQ Final 3.4% 4.2% 3.5% 3.5%
2019-02-28 01:30 PM GDP Growth Rate QoQ 2.6% 3.4% 2.5% 2.5%
2019-03-28 12:30 PM GDP Growth Rate QoQ Final 3.4% 2.4% 2.7%
2019-04-26 12:30 PM GDP Growth Rate QoQ Adv 1.8%
2019-05-30 12:30 PM GDP Growth Rate QoQ 2nd Est 1.8%



US GDP Growth Slows Less Than Expected

The US economy advanced an annualized 2.6 percent on quarter in the fourth quarter of 2018, beating market expectations of a 2.4 percent growth, the initial estimate showed. Fixed investment rose faster, consumer spending remained robust and the drag from net trade was smaller. Considering full 2018, the economy advanced 2.9 percent, above 2.2 percent in 2017 and the highest growth rate since 2015.

Personal consumption expenditure (PCE) contributed 1.92 percentage points to growth (2.37 percentage points in Q3) and rose 2.8 percent (3.5 percent in Q3). Spending rose less for nondurable goods (2.8 percent compared to 4.6 percent) and services (2.4 percent compared to 3.2 percent) but increased more for durables (5.9 percent compared to 3.7 percent). 

Fixed investment contributed 0.69 percentage points to growth (0.21 percentage points in Q3) and rose 3.9 percent (1.1 percent in Q3). Investment rose faster for equipment (6.7 percent compared to 3.4 percent) and intellectual property products (13.1 percent compared to 5.6 percent) but continued to decline for structures (-4.2 percent compared to -3.4 percent) and residential investment (-3.5 percent compared to -3.6 percent). 

The contribution from private inventories was 0.13 percentage points, below 2.33 percentage points in Q3.

Exports increased 1.6 percent (-4.9 percent in Q3). Imports rose 2.7 percent (9.3 percent in Q3). As a result, the impact from trade was -0.22 percent, compared to -1.99 percent in the previous quarter which was the biggest drag on growth since the first quarter of 1984. Yet, exports fell a lot in Q3 mainly due to a decline in soybean sales to China after Beijing's tariffs took effect and imports surged before US import tariffs take complete effect. 

Government spending and investment added 0.07 percentage points to growth, below 0.44 percentage points in Q3. It increased 0.4 percent, lower than 2.6 percent in Q3.

The partial shutdown, which began on December 22nd, is estimated to have lowered fourth-quarter GDP growth by about 0.1 percentage point when accounting for the impact of reductions in services provided by the federal government.

Considering full 2018, the economy advanced 2.9 percent, above 2.2 percent in 2017 and the highest growth rate since 2015. The biggest upward contribution came from personal spending (1.81 percentage points compared to 1.73 percentage points), followed by fixed investment (0.91 percentage points compared to 0.81 percentage points); inventories (0.12 percentage points compared to a flat reading); and public expenditure (0.26 percentage poitns compared to -0.01 percentage points). On the other hand, net trade subtracted 0.22 percentage points to growth, compared to -0.31 percentage points in 2017.

Due to the partial government shutdown, the advance estimate of GDP growth was not released and the second estimate was replaced by an intitial report.


BEA | Joana Taborda | joana.taborda@tradingeconomics.com
2/28/2019 2:03:02 PM


News

US GDP Growth Revised Down to 3.4% in Q3
The US economy advanced an annualized 3.4 percent on quarter in the third quarter of 2018, slightly below earlier estimates of a 3.5 percent growth, final figures showed. It follows a 4.2 percent expansion in the previous period which was the highest since the third quarter of 2014. Personal spending was revised slightly lower and net trade dragged down more on growth than initially estimated while inventory accumulation was higher than expected.
Published on 2018-12-21

US GDP Growth Confirmed at 3.5% in Q3
The US economy advanced an annualized 3.5 percent on quarter in the third quarter of 2018, in line with earlier figures, the second estimate showed. It follows a 4.2 percent growth in the previous period which was the highest since the third quarter of 2014. Upward revisions to nonresidential fixed investment and private inventory investment were offset by a downward revision to consumer spending and a higher drag from net trade.
Published on 2018-11-28

US GDP Growth Beats Forecasts in Q3
The US economy advanced an annualized 3.5 percent on quarter in the third quarter of 2018, beating market expectations of 3.3 percent, the advance estimate showed. It follows a 4.2 percent growth in the previous period which was the highest since the third quarter of 2014. Consumer spending rose faster and inventories rebounded. On the other hand, investment in structures fell the most in near three years, residential continued to contract and net trade made the biggest drag on growth since Q2 1985.
Published on 2018-10-26

US GDP Growth Confirmed at 4.2% in Q2
The US economy advanced an annualized 4.2 percent on quarter in the second quarter of 2018, unrevised from the previous estimate and in line with market expectations. It is the highest growth rate since the third quarter of 2014. Net trade made the highest contribution since the last three months of 2013 mainly due to a rise in exports of soybeans and other goods before tariffs take completely effect. On the other hand, inventories made the biggest drag on growth since the first quarter of 2014.
Published on 2018-09-27



United States GDP Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
GDP Growth Rate 2.60 3.40 16.70 -10.00 percent [+]
GDP Annual Growth Rate 3.10 3.00 13.40 -3.90 percent [+]
GDP 19390.60 18624.48 19390.60 543.30 USD Billion [+]
GDP Constant Prices 18784.63 18664.97 18784.63 2184.87 USD Billion [+]
Gross National Product 18908.02 18766.40 18908.02 2098.40 USD Billion [+]
Gross Fixed Capital Formation 3364.23 3331.79 3364.23 1215.60 USD Billion [+]
GDP per capita 53128.54 52319.20 53128.54 17036.90 USD [+]
GDP per capita PPP 54225.45 53399.40 54225.45 36543.08 USD [+]
GDP From Agriculture 212.00 216.90 236.10 168.40 USD Billion [+]
GDP From Construction 646.00 641.40 794.50 531.70 USD Billion [+]
GDP From Manufacturing 2139.80 2125.80 2139.80 1798.60 USD Billion [+]
GDP From Mining 429.80 429.80 472.80 241.80 USD Billion [+]
GDP From Public Administration 2180.70 2175.50 2188.00 2089.50 USD Billion [+]
GDP From Services 12821.80 12700.80 12821.80 9734.70 USD Billion [+]
GDP From Transport 545.70 542.40 545.70 429.60 USD Billion [+]
GDP From Utilities 280.80 284.30 291.30 217.20 USD Billion [+]


United States GDP Growth Rate

On the expenditure side, personal consumption expenditures accounts for 68 percent of total GDP out of which purchases of goods constitute 23 percent and services 45 percent. Private investment accounts for 16 percent of GDP and government consumption and investment for 18 percent. As the value of goods exported (13.5 percent) is lower than the value of goods imported (16.5 percent), net exports subtracts 3 percent from the total GDP value. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States GDP Growth Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States GDP Growth Rate - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2019.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.60 3.40 16.70 -10.00 1947 - 2018 percent Quarterly




Country Last Previous
United States 2.60 Dec/18
Saudi Arabia 1.60 Sep/18
China 1.50 Dec/18
India 1.50 Sep/18
Singapore 1.40 Dec/18
South Africa 1.40 Dec/18
South Korea 1.00 Dec/18
Spain 0.70 Dec/18
Japan 0.50 Dec/18
Netherlands 0.50 Dec/18
France 0.30 Dec/18
Russia 0.30 Sep/18
Australia 0.20 Dec/18
Euro Area 0.20 Dec/18
Mexico 0.20 Dec/18
Switzerland 0.20 Dec/18
United Kingdom 0.20 Dec/18
Brazil 0.10 Dec/18
Canada 0.10 Dec/18
Germany 0.00 Dec/18
Italy -0.10 Dec/18
Argentina -1.20 Dec/18
Indonesia -1.69 Dec/18
Turkey -2.40 Dec/18


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