The BEA Wire | BEA's Official Blog
BEA Continues to Explore Reliability of Successive Vintages of Real GDP Estimates
The U.S.
March 2015 Trade Gap is $51.4 Billion
The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in March 2015 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $35.9 billion in February (revised) to $51.4 billion in March, as imports increased more than exports. The previously published February deficit was $35.4 billion. The goods deficit increased $14.9 billion from February to $70.6 billion in March. The services surplus…
New Data Tool Provides Fast Access to Trade and Investment Stats for Countries
The Bureau of Economic Analysis launched today a new data tool on its website that gives users a snapshot of statistics on trade and investment between the United States and another country by simply clicking on a world map.
These fast facts at your fingertips can include:
Real Consumer Spending Rose in March
Personal income increased less than 0.1 percent in March after rising 0.4 percent in February. Wages and salaries, the largest component of personal income, rose 0.2 percent in March after rising 0.3 percent in February.
Current-dollar disposable personal income (DPI), after-tax income, increased less than 0.1 percent in March after rising 0.5 percent in February.
Real DPI, income adjusted for taxes and…
GDP Up Slightly in First Quarter
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.2 percent in the first quarter of 2015, according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2014, real GDP increased 2.2 percent. In the first quarter, the dollar strengthened against major currencies, imports and exports were delayed because of labor disputes in key ports, energy prices declined, and several regions experienced severe weather…
Nondurable Goods Manufacturing Led Growth in the Fourth Quarter Gross Domestic Product by Industry
Nondurable goods manufacturing was the leading contributor to U.S. economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2014. Both private goods- and services-producing sectors contributed to the increase, while the government sector decreased. Overall, 15 of 22 industry groups contributed to the 2.2 percent increase in real GDP.
BEA Tool Allows Businesses to Estimate the Economic Impact of Disasters
When a disaster strikes, understanding the economic impact on the affected community is a key to developing a recovery plan. BEA’s regional input-output modeling, RIMS II, provides disaster recovery officials a tool to model the impact on an affected community.
Timelier, more accurate data: the Commerce Department's statistical agencies deliver on promise of better data for better decision-making
The Economics and Statistics Administration’s family of statistical agencies – the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and U.S. Census Bureau – are announcing an important new initiative that will lead to an acceleration of key trade data as well as improved accuracy of the advance estimate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP is widely considered the most important measure of the U.S. economy.
February 2015 Trade Gap is $35.4 Billion
The U.S. monthly international trade deficit decreased in February 2015 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit decreased from $42.7 billion in January (revised) to $35.4 billion in February, as imports decreased more than exports. The previously published January deficit was $41.8 billion. The goods deficit decreased $7.4 billion from January to $55.2 billion in February. The services surplus…
Advance Trade Data Aim to Improve First Estimate of Quarterly GDP
The Census Bureau’s plans to produce an advance monthly report on international trade in goods will allow the Bureau of Economic Analysis to incorporate three months of official trade data into its first estimate of quarterly Gross Domestic Product, helping to improve the accuracy of this major economic measure.
BEA Director Brian Moyer praised the move as an example of cross-agency collaboration.
Value of U.S. Liabilities Increased More Than U.S. Assets in Fourth Quarter
The U.S. net international investment position was -$6,915.3 billion (preliminary) at the end of the fourth quarter of 2014 as the value of U.S. liabilities exceeded the value of U.S. assets. At the end of the third quarter, the net position was -$6,129.4 billion (revised).
Value of U.S. Liabilities Increased More than U.S. Assets in 2014
The U.S. net international investment position was -$6,915.3 billion (preliminary) at the end of 2014 as the value of U.S. liabilities exceeded the value of U.S. assets. At the end of 2013, the net position was -$5,383.0 billion.