The BEA Wire | BEA's Official Blog

Spending on Durable Goods Increases in May

Personal income increased 0.5 percent in May, the same increase as in April. Wages and salaries, the largest component of personal income, increased 0.2 percent in May after increasing 0.3 percent in April.

GDP Increases in First Quarter

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 3.1 percent in the first quarter of 2019, according to the “third” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The growth rate was unrevised from the “second” estimate released in May. In the fourth quarter of 2018, real GDP rose 2.2 percent.

U.S. Net International Investment Position – First Quarter 2019

The U.S. net international investment position decreased to –$9.93 trillion (preliminary) at the end of the first quarter of 2019 from –$9.55 trillion (revised) at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018. The $374.4 billion decrease reflected net financial transactions of –$30.2 billion and net other changes in position, such as price and exchange-rate changes, of –$344.2 billion.

State Personal Income, First Quarter 2019

State personal income increased 3.4 percent at an annual rate in the first quarter of 2019, a deceleration from the 4.1 percent increase in the fourth quarter of 2018. Personal income increased in all states except South Dakota. The percent change in personal income across all states ranged from 5.6 percent in West Virginia to -0.6 percent in South Dakota.

U.S. Current-Account Deficit Decreases in First Quarter 2019

The U.S. current-account deficit decreased to $130.4 billion (preliminary) in the first quarter of 2019 from $143.9 billion (revised) in the fourth quarter of 2018. As a percentage of U.S. gross domestic product, the deficit decreased to 2.5 percent from 2.8 percent. The previously published current-account deficit for the fourth quarter was $134.4 billion.

BEA Joins the FSRDC Network: New Secure Locations Now Available for Researchers

For the first time, approved academics and other researchers will be able to access the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ confidential, company-specific trade and investment data from secure locations around the country, making it more convenient for them to do research.

April 2019 Trade Gap is $50.8 Billion

The U.S. monthly international trade deficit decreased in April 2019 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit decreased from $51.9 billion in March (revised) to $50.8 billion in April, as imports decreased more than exports. The previously published March deficit was $50.0 billion. The goods deficit decreased $1.0 billion in April to $71.7 billion. The services surplus increased $0.1 billion in…

Personal Income Rises In April

Personal income increased 0.5 percent in April after increasing 0.1 percent in March. Wages and salaries, the largest component of personal income, increased 0.3  percent in April after increasing 0.4 percent in March.

GDP Increases in First Quarter

Real gross domestic product increased 3.1 percent in the first quarter of 2019, according to the “second” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The growth rate was 0.1 percentage point lower than the “advance” estimate released in April. In the fourth quarter of 2018, real GDP rose 2.2 percent.

Check Out the Buying Power in Your Metro Area

Interested in comparing buying power in your metropolitan area to another? Then, you’ll want to look at the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ latest batch of regional price indexes.

Some highlights from BEA’s recent news release, featuring our 2017 Regional Price Parities:

Real Personal Income for Metropolitan Areas, 2017

The percent change in real metropolitan area personal income ranged from 14.8 percent in Midland, MI to -5.9 percent in Enid, OK.

Real Personal Income for States, 2017

The percent change in real state personal income ranged from 4.5 percent in New York to -1.3 percent in North Dakota.