Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Apr 28 2017

U.S. GDP Disappoints: PCE Barely Increases

Summary

Economic growth slowed to 0.7% during Q1'17 following a 2.1% advance during Q4'16. It was the slowest rate of increase in three years and fell short of expectations for a 1.3% advance in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Weakness [...]


Economic growth slowed to 0.7% during Q1'17 following a 2.1% advance during Q4'16. It was the slowest rate of increase in three years and fell short of expectations for a 1.3% advance in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Weakness in consumer spending, inventories and foreign trade accounted for growth's deceleration. Pricing power picked up.

The GDP figures can be found in Haver's USECON and USNA database. USNA contains virtually all of the Bureau of Economic Analysis' detail in the national accounts, including the integrated economic accounts and the recently added GDP data for U.S. Territories. The Action Economics consensus estimates can be found in AS1REPNA.

Chained 2009 $ (%, AR) Q1'17 (Advance Estimate) Q4'16 Q3'16 Q1'17 Y/Y 2016 2015 2014
Gross Domestic Product 0.7 2.1 3.5 1.9 1.6 2.6 2.4
  Inventory Effect -0.9 1.0 0.5 -0.2 -0.4 0.2 0.0
Final Sales 1.6 1.1 3.0 2.1 2.0 2.4 2.5
  Foreign Trade Effect 0.1 -1.7 0.9 -0.1 -0.1 -0.7 -0.1
Domestic Final Sales 1.5 2.8 2.1 2.2 2.1 3.1 2.6
Demand Components
  Personal Consumption Expenditures 0.3 3.5 3.0 2.8 2.7 3.2 2.9
  Business Fixed Investment 9.4 0.9 1.4 3.1 -0.4 2.1 6.0
  Residential Investment 13.7 9.6 -4.1 2.4 4.9 11.7 3.5
  Government Spending -1.7 0.2 0.8 -0.6 0.9 1.8 -0.9
Chain-Type Price Index
  GDP      2.3 2.1 1.4 2.0 1.3 1.1 1.8
   Personal Consumption Expenditures 2.4 2.0 1.5 2.0 1.1 0.3 1.5
     Less Food/Energy 2.0 1.3 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.4 1.6
  • Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio.   Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984.   He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C.   In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists.   Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.

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