U.S. third-quarter GDP revised up to 4.1%
The U.S. economy expanded at a 4.1% annual clip in the third quarter,
the strongest performance in two years, owing to faster consumer
spending and more business investment in intellectual property such as
software, according to newly revised government figures. The Commerce
Department previously reported that gross domestic product had risen at a
3.6% annual rate. Consumer spending rose 2% instead of 1.4% as
previously reported, though the increase in outlays was largely directed
toward gasoline and health care. Business investment in software was
revised up sharply to a 5.8% increase from 1.7%. Companies stockpiled
$115.7 billion worth of inventories in the third quarter, barely changed
from the prior reading. Trade also contributed a bit more to faster
growth in the third quarter. The increase in exports was revised to 3.9%
from 3.7%, while imports were trimmed to 2.4% from 2.7%. The annualized
pace of inflation was little changed at 1.9% as measured by the PCE
index, or just 1.4% on a core basis. Before the report, economists
polled by MarketWatch had forecast GDP to be revised up to 3.7% in the
government's final update.
No comments:
Post a Comment