Real economic activity grew at a revised 3.9% annual rate in the second quarter (2.7% y/y) versus last month's estimate of 3.7% and the initial estimate of a 2.3% rise. This compares to a 0.6% Q1 advance, which was restrained by severe winter weather and West coast port closings. The latest estimate outpaced consensus expectations for an unchanged 3.7% rise in the Action Economics Forecast Survey.

Domestic final sales grew at a 3.7% rate, revised from 3.2%. Consumer spending advanced at a 3.6% pace, revised from 3.1%. The revision reflected a quickened 2.7% advance (3.0% y/y) in services purchases due to strength in food services & accommodations, transportation and health care. Motor vehicle purchases improved at a lessened 9.7% rate. Furnishings & household equipment buying grew at an unrevised 4.6% rate. Apparel spending rose at a little-revised 6.6% rate. Food & beverage purchases grew 2.7% following declines in each of the prior four quarters.

Business fixed investment growth was raised to 4.1% from 3.2%. Growth in structures investment was doubled to 6.3%. It recovered from a 7.4% Q1 decline. Growth in equipment spending was raised to 0.3% from -0.4%. Declines in information processing investment and transportation equipment spending were sustained; and investment in intellectual property products grew a little-changed 8.3%. Spending on research and development jumped 12.5%.

Residential fixed investment growth was raised to 9.4% from 7.8%, continuing a stretch of five quarters of firm gain.

Government spending growth was unrevised at 2.6%. State & local spending increased 4.3% (1.4% y/y), rebounding after a 0.8% shortfall. Federal government purchases were unchanged (-3.3% y/y) after a 1.1% rise, held back by a 0.5% decline (+1.3% y/y) in nondefense purchases. Defense spending grew 0.3% (-1.3% y/y).

The contribution to GDP growth from inventory investment was left the same at 0.2 percentage points. That was down from a 0.9 point Q1 addition. Foreign trade added an unchanged 0.2 percentage points to GDP growth as exports grew 5.1% and outpaced the 3.0% gain in imports.

After-tax corporate profits grew 6.3% (8.5% y/y), up from 5.1% reported initially and the strongest gain since Q1 2012. Financial industry profits grew 9.6% (-1.7% y/y) and nonfinancial sector earnings improved 1.9% (1.8% y/y). Earnings from the rest of the world rose 2.9% (-0.9% y/y), revised from a moderate decline.

The GDP price index advanced at an unrevised 2.1% rate. The personal consumption price index rose 2.2% and the index less food & energy increased 1.9%. The business fixed investment price index fell at a 1.0% rate (+0.1% y/y) while the residential price index declined 0.8% (+2.5% y/y).

The GDP figures can be found in Haver's USECON and USNA databases; 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.

Inflation Dynamics and Monetary Policy is the title of yesterday's speech by Fed Chair Janet L. Yellen and it can be found here.