The U.S. economy continues to show signs of slow growth. Revised data show U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1.9 percent during first quarter 2012, a substantial slowing from the fourth-quarter rate of 3.0 percent. Consumer spending drove most of the gains with business fixed investment, residential investment and inventories also making contributions. Government … [Read more...] about August 2012: Business Indicators
July 2012: Business Indicators
The U.S. economy is showing signs of slowing growth. Revised data show U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1.9 percent during first quarter 2012, which represents a substantial slowing from the fourth-quarter rate of 3.0 percent. Business fixed investment, residential investment and inventories also made positive contributions. Government spending and net exports made … [Read more...] about July 2012: Business Indicators
June 2012: Business Indicators
U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 2.2 percent during first quarter 2012, representing a substantial slowing from the fourth-quarter rate of 3.0 percent. Government spending, business fixed investment and net exports made negative contributions. U.S. nonfarm employment rose by only 115,000 jobs in April, marking the weakest gain since August 2011. Consumer sentiment … [Read more...] about June 2012: Business Indicators
May 2012: Business Indicators
U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 3.0 percent during fourth quarter 2011, representing a substantial gain over the third-quarter rate of 1.8 percent. Consumption spending and inventory investment were particularly strong. Residential and business fixed investment slowed. Imports and government spending made negative contributions. U.S. nonfarm employment rose by only … [Read more...] about May 2012: Business Indicators
April 2012: Business Indicators
According to the second estimate, U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 3.0 percent during fourth quarter 2011, which represents a substantial gain over the third-quarter rate of 1.8 percent. U.S. nonfarm employment rose by 227,000 jobs in January, and the unemployment rate held steady at 8.3 percent as labor force participation increased. Consumer confidence and consumer … [Read more...] about April 2012: Business Indicators
March 2012: Business Indicators
U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 2.8 percent during fourth quarter 2011, which represents a gain over the third-quarter figure of 1.8 percent. Consumption spending and inventory investment were particularly strong. Residential investment showed stronger growth, but business fixed investment slowed. U.S. nonfarm employment rose by 243,000 jobs in January, and the … [Read more...] about March 2012: Business Indicators
February 2012: Business Indicators
According to revised data, U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1.8 percent during third quarter 2011, which represents a gain over the second-quarter figure of 1.3 percent. Consumption spending and business fixed investment were particularly strong. U.S. nonfarm employment rose by 200,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent. Both consumer … [Read more...] about February 2012: Business Indicators
January 2012: Business Indicators
According to revised data, U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 2 percent during third quarter 2011, which represents a gain over the second-quarter figure of 1.3 percent. Consumption spending and business fixed investment were particularly strong. Preliminary indicators—such as retail sales, industrial production and trade—suggest U.S. real GDP will show even stronger … [Read more...] about January 2012: Business Indicators
December 2011: Business Indicators
According to initial data, U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 2.5 percent during third quarter 2011, which is up considerably from the second quarter estimate of 1.3 percent. Third quarter growth was the strongest seen since third quarter 2010, but U.S. real GDP remains 6.7 percent below potential. U.S. nonfarm employment rose by 80,000 jobs in October. The … [Read more...] about December 2011: Business Indicators
November 2011: Business Indicators
According to revised data, U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1.3 percent during second quarter 2011, up somewhat from the first quarter estimate of 0.4 percent. Both figures are well below the 2.3 percent annualized growth rate posted in fourth quarter 2010. U.S. nonfarm employment rose by 103,000 jobs in September, which was only enough to keep the U.S. … [Read more...] about November 2011: Business Indicators
Business Indicators: October 2011
U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1.0 percent during second quarter 2011, up somewhat from the revised first quarter estimate of 0.4 percent. Both figures are well below the revised estimate of 2.3 percent annualized growth for real GDP in fourth quarter 2010. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) establishment survey, U.S. nonfarm employment held steady … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: October 2011
Business Indicators: September 2011
U.S. real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1.3 percent during second quarter 2011, up from the revised first quarter estimate of 0.4 percent. U.S. non-farm employment increased by an anemic 117,000 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in July, which represents an improvement over the May and June figures of 25,000 and 18,000, respectively. Mostly as a result of declining labor-force … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: September 2011
August 2011: Business Indicators
The pace of U.S. economic growth slowed noticeably in first quarter 2011, with real GDP growth slowing to 1.9 percent at an annualized rate—a considerably weaker pace than the 3.1 percent figure posted in fourth quarter 2010. Providing evidence of continued economic weakness into second quarter, U.S. nonfarm employment rose by only 25,000 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in May and … [Read more...] about August 2011: Business Indicators
July 2011: Business Indicators
The pace of U.S. economic growth slowed noticeably in first quarter 2011, with real GDP growth dropping to 1.8 percent at an annualized rate—considerably weaker than the 3.1 percent figure posted for fourth quarter 2010. Providing evidence of continued economic weakness, U.S. non-farm employment rose by a meager 54,000 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in May. As a result of poor … [Read more...] about July 2011: Business Indicators
June 2011: Business Indicators
The U.S. economy slowed noticeably in the first quarter, with real GDP growth dropping to 1.7 percent at an annualized rate—considerably weaker than the 3.1 percent figure posted for fourth quarter 2010. Despite evidence of weakening economic activity, U.S. non-farm employment rose by a robust 244,000 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in April, marking the seventh straight month of … [Read more...] about June 2011: Business Indicators