Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Jun 28 2012

U.S. GDP Growth Is Unrevised; Profits Are Lowered

Summary

GDP growth during last quarter was unrevised at 1.9% (SAAR), still its weakest since Q3'11. The figure matched Consensus estimates. Revised lower were corporate profits which fell 0.3% (+5.5% y/y) instead of rising 0.6% as reported [...]


GDP growth during last quarter was unrevised at 1.9% (SAAR), still its weakest since Q3'11. The figure matched Consensus estimates. Revised lower were corporate profits which fell 0.3% (+5.5% y/y) instead of rising 0.6% as reported last month. Profits in domestic financial industries rose 5.7% (2.4% y/y) while profits from nonfinancial industries increased 1.4% (14.4% y/y). Foreign corporate earnings fell 11.8% (-12.1% y/y).

Inventory building's contribution to growth continued negligible at 0.1 percentage points. Foreign trade's 0.1% contribution also was little different from last month's report. Exports grew at a reduced 4.2% rate (3.8% y/y) as imports rose a lessened 2.7% (2.2% y/y).

On the demand side, an upward revision to business investment growth to 3.1% (8.5% y/y) was accompanied by negligible revisions elsewhere. Growth in PCE was lessened to 2.5% (1.7% y/y) and government spending growth remained at -4.0% (-2.3% y/y). Growth in residential investment was little changed at 20.0% (9.0% y/y) as warm temperatures fueled growth.

Price inflation as measured by the chain-weight price index was unrevised at 2.0% (2.0% y/y).

The latest GDP figures can be found in Haver's USECON and USNA databases; USNA contains basically all of the Bureau of Economic Analysis' detail on the national accounts, including the new integrated economics accounts and the recently added GDP data for U.S. Territories. The Consensus estimates can be found in AS1REPNA.

A Quick Look at Fed Forecasting from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland is available here.

Chained 2005 $,% AR Q1'12 (Third Estimate) Q1'12
(2nd Estimate)
Q1'12
(Advance)
Q4'11 Q3'11 Q1'12
Y/Y
2011 2010 2009
Gross Domestic Product 1.9 1.9 2.2 3.0 1.8 2.0 1.7 3.0 -3.5
 Inventory Effect 0.1 0.2 0.6 1.8 -1.4 0.1 -0.2 1.6 -0.9
Final Sales 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.1 3.2 1.9 1.9 1.4 -2.6
 Foreign Trade Effect 0.1 -0.1 -0.0 -0.3 0.4 0.2 0.1 -0.4 1.0
Domestic Final Sales 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.3 2.7 1.7 1.8 1.8 -3.6
Demand Components
Personal Consumption 2.5 2.7 2.9 2.1 1.7 1.7 2.2 2.0 -1.9
Business Fixed Investment 3.1 1.9 -2.1 5.2 15.7 8.5 8.8 4.4 -17.9
Residential Investment 20.0 19.3 19.0 11.7 1.2 9.0 -1.3 -4.3 -22.2
Government Spending -4.0 -3.9 -3.0 -4.1 -0.1 -2.3 -2.1 0.7 1.7
Chain-Type Price Index
GDP 2.0 1.7 1.5 0.9 2.6 2.0 2.1 1.2 1.1
Final Sales of Domestic Product 2.0 1.7 1.5 0.9 2.6 2.0 2.1 1.2 1.0
Final Sales to Domestic Purchasers 2.6 2.5 2.4 1.1 2.0 2.3 2.5 1.5 -0.1
  • 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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