The BEA Wire | BEA's Official Blog
Personal Income Decreases in January Following December Increase
Personal income decreased 0.1 percent in January after increasing 1.0 percent in December, the largest increase since December 2012. Wages and salaries, the largest component of personal income, increased 0.3 percent in January after increasing 0.5 percent in December.
New Date Set for January Consumer Spending
Statistics on consumer spending in January, also known as personal consumption expenditures, have been rescheduled for release March 29 because of the effects of the temporary lapse in federal funding.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis typically releases each month’s personal income and spending data together in the Personal Income and Outlays report. However, because of delays in the availability of some source data, the schedule…
GDP Increases in Fourth Quarter
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to the “initial” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.4 percent.
Fourth-quarter GDP highlights The increase in real GDP reflected increases in consumer spending, business investment, exports, and inventory investment.
New Dates Set for Three Monthly Trade Reports
New release dates are now set for a trio of monthly trade reports impacted by the effects of the recent lapse in federal funding.
New Dates for International Transactions, International Investment Position
Bureau of Economic Analysis data on international trade and investment, as well as the United States' international investment position, will be released a few days later in March than originally scheduled, due to the effects of the recent lapse in federal funding.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State: Third Quarter 2018
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 49 states and the District of Columbia in the third quarter of 2018. The percent change in real GDP in the third quarter ranged from 5.8 percent in Washington to 0.0 percent in West Virginia. Wholesale trade, information services, finance and insurance, and retail trade were the leading contributors to the increase in real GDP nationally. Information services and retail trade were the leading…
Wholesale Trade Led Growth in the Third Quarter
Wholesale trade; information; and finance and insurance were the leading contributors to the increase in U.S. economic growth in the third quarter of 2018. Overall, 19 of 22 industry groups contributed to the 3.4 percent increase in real GDP in the third quarter.
New Dates Set for GDP, Personal Income, and International Trade
Bureau of Economic Analysis data on U.S. gross domestic product, personal income and outlays, and international trade in goods and services that were delayed by the recent lapse in federal funding will be released in late February and early March.
November 2018 Trade Gap is $49.3 Billion
The U.S. monthly international trade deficit decreased in November 2018 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit decreased from $55.7 billion in October (revised) to $49.3 billion in November, as imports decreased more than exports. The previously published October deficit was $55.5 billion. The goods deficit decreased $6.7 billion in November to $71.6 billion. The services surplus decreased $0…
New Data About Foreign Investment in States, Local Areas
New research statistics about foreign direct investment in states, metro areas, and counties are available through a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
BEA and BLS combined their data to provide information about each state or local area’s employment at companies with foreign ownership, including:
U.S. Net International Investment Position Third Quarter 2018
The U.S. net international investment position decreased to −$9,627.2 billion (preliminary) at the end of the third quarter of 2018 from −$8,845.1 billion (revised) at the end of the second quarter. The $782.1 billion decrease reflected net financial transactions of −$24.6 billion and net other changes in position, such as price and exchange-rate changes, of −$757.5 billion.
New Dates Set for Some Delayed Releases
Bureau of Economic Analysis reports on the U.S. international investment position, trade in goods and services, state economies, and industry economics that were delayed by the recent lapse in federal funding will be released in February.
The new release dates: