The BEA Wire | BEA's Official Blog
Real Consumer Spending Falls in April
Personal income increased 0.3 percent in April after increasing 0.5 percent in March. Wages and salaries, the largest component of personal income, increased 0.2 percent after increasing 0.6 percent.
Current-dollar disposable personal income (DPI), after-tax income, increased 0.3 percent in April after increasing 0.5 percent in March.
Real DPI, income adjusted for taxes and inflation, increased 0.2 percent in April…
GDP Declines in First Quarter
Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased 1.0 percent in the first quarter of 2014, according to the “second” estimate released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2013, real GDP increased 2.6 percent.
First-quarter GDP highlights The decline in real GDP was more than accounted for by a significant decline in inventory investment, notably by motor vehicle dealerships. In fact, GDP less inventory…
Restructured International Accounts to Offer More Detailed Look at U.S. Trade and Investment
In June, BEA’s international data will be most significant restructuring of BEA’s international data since 1976. The restructured accounts will provide greater and more complete information about the global financial picture and the United States’ place in it.
March 2014 Trade Gap Is $40.4 Billion
The U.S. monthly international trade deficit decreased in March 2014 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit decreased from $41.9 billion in February (revised) to $40.4 billion in March as exports increased more than imports. The previously published February deficit was $42.3 billion. The goods deficit decreased $0.6 billion from February to $60.7 billion in March; the services surplus…
BEA Restores Local Economic Statistics That Were Eliminated Due to 2013 Budget Sequester
On May 5th, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) restored detailed estimates on employment, farm income and expenses, and personal current transfer receipts as well as expanded industrial detail for compensation and earning for 108 industries to its Local Area Personal Income (LAPI) program.
Real Consumer Spending Rises in March
Personal income increased 0.5 percent in March after increasing 0.4 percent in February. Wages and salaries, the largest component of personal income, increased 0.6 percent after increasing 0.3 percent.
Current-dollar disposable personal income (DPI), after-tax income, increased 0.5 percent in March after increasing 0.4 percent in February.
Real DPI, income adjusted for taxes and inflation, increased 0.3 percent in March…
GDP Growth Slows in First Quarter
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.1 percent in the first quarter of 2014, according to the “advance” estimate released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2013, the growth rate was 2.6 percent.
First-quarter GDP highlights The slowdown in real GDP growth reflected:
New Quarterly Statistics Detail Industries' Economic Performance
The Bureau of Economic Analysis released today – for the first time – gross domestic product (GDP) by industry for 22 industry sectors on a quarterly basis. These new statistics fill an important gap in U.S. federal economic statistics by providing timely information on how individual industries contributed to U.S. economic growth in a given quarter.
New Commerce Data Supports Better Economic Decision-Making by Businesses and Policymakers
This week, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released two new data products that will help American businesses, consumers, policymakers and academia gain important information about the performance of the U.S. economy.
New BEA Data Proves Valuable for Retail Industry
Guest blog post by Jack Kleinhenz, Ph.D., Chief Economist, National Retail Federation
NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries.
BEA Introduces New Measures of the Regional Economy—Estimates of Real Personal Income for States, 2008–2012
Today, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released real, price-adjusted estimates of personal income for states and metropolitan areas for 2008-2012. The price-adjustments are based on regional price parities (RPPs) and on BEA’s national Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) price index. The RPPs measure geographic differences in the price levels of consumption goods and services relative to the national average, and the PCE…
BEA Introduces New Measures of the Regional Economy—Estimates of Real Personal Income for Metropolitan Areas, 2008–2012
Today, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released real, price-adjusted estimates of personal income for states and metropolitan areas for 2008-2012. The price-adjustments are based on regional price parities (RPPs) and on BEA’s national Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) price index. The RPPs measure geographic differences in the price levels of consumption goods and services relative to the national average, and the PCE…