The BEA Wire | BEA's Official Blog

Musings from Mackinac Bridge: Three Ways to Measure Economy Offer Different Perspectives

A blog post from BEA Director Vipin Arora

Mackinac Bridge—which connects the Upper and Lower parts of Michigan—is a marvel. So much so that I find it difficult, if not impossible, to appreciate the scale and grandeur of the bridge from just one vantage point. Driving on it, for example, offers a different experience than looking at it from nearby St. Ignace. And the view is awe inspiring from the water. We are looking at the same…

Gross Domestic Product by County and Metropolitan Area, 2022

In 2022, real gross domestic product increased in 1,780 counties, decreased in 1,296 counties, and was unchanged in 38 counties. The percent change in real GDP ranged from 71.1 percent in Chouteau County, MT, to –57.6 percent in Kiowa County, CO.

October 2023 Trade Gap is $64.3 Billion

The U.S. goods and services trade deficit increased from $61.2 billion in September (revised) to $64.3 billion in October, as exports decreased and imports increased. The goods deficit increased $3.5 billion to $89.8 billion, and the services surplus increased $0.4 billion to $25.5 billion.

Gross Domestic Product by State, 2nd Quarter 2023

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 44 states and the District of Columbia in the second quarter of 2023, with the percent change ranging from 8.7 percent in Wyoming to –1.9 percent in Vermont.

Gross Domestic Product by Industry Second Quarter 2023 and Comprehensive Update

Today’s release presents estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) by industry and related measures for the second quarter of 2023, as well as revised quarterly estimates for the first quarter of 2018 through the first quarter of 2023 as part of the comprehensive update of the National Economic Accounts (NEAs).

Second Quarter 2023

Personal Income and Outlays, October 2023

Personal income increased $57.1 billion (0.2 percent at a monthly rate) in October. Disposable personal income —personal income less personal current taxes—increased $63.4 billion (0.3 percent). Personal outlays—the sum of personal consumption expenditures, personal interest payments, and personal current transfer payments—increased $43.8 billion (0.2 percent) and consumer spending increased $41.2 billion (0.2 percent). Personal saving was $…

Gross Domestic Product (Second Estimate) Corporate Profits (Preliminary Estimate) Third Quarter 2023

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 5.2 percent in the third quarter of 2023, according to the “second” estimate. In the second quarter, real GDP increased 2.1 percent. The increase in the third quarter primarily reflected increases in consumer spending and inventory investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.

Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, U.S. and States, 2022

The value added of the outdoor recreation economy accounted for 2.2 percent of current‐dollar gross domestic product for the nation in 2022. At the state level, value added for outdoor recreation as a share of state GDP ranged from 5.6 percent in Hawaii to 1.4 percent in Connecticut. The share was 0.9 percent in the District of Columbia.

Activities of U.S. Multinational Enterprises, 2021

Worldwide employment by U.S. multinational enterprises (MNEs) increased 1.1 percent to 43.3 million workers in 2021 from 42.9 million workers in 2020.

Personal Income by County and Metropolitan Area, 2022

In 2022, personal income, in current dollars, increased in 1,964 counties, decreased in 1,107, and was unchanged in 43. Personal income increased 2.1 percent in the metropolitan portion of the United States and 1.3 percent in the nonmetropolitan portion.

September 2023 Trade Gap is $61.5 Billion

The U.S. goods and services trade deficit increased from $58.7 billion in August (revised) to $61.5 billion in September, as imports increased more than exports. The goods deficit increased $1.7 billion to $86.3 billion, and the services surplus decreased $1.2 billion to $24.8 billion.

Personal Income and Outlays, September 2023

Personal income increased $77.8 billion (0.3 percent at a monthly rate) in September. Disposable personal income — personal income less personal current taxes— increased $56.1 billion (0.3 percent). Personal outlays—the sum of personal consumption expenditures, personal interest payments, and personal current transfer payments—increased $175.1 billion (0.9 percent) and consumer spending increased $138.7 billion (0.7 percent). Personal saving…