Archive for April, 2019

US Q1 GDP Growth Beats Forecasts

The US economy grew by an annualized 3.2 percent in the first quarter of 2019, easily beating market expectations of 2 percent and following a 2.2 percent expansion in the previous three-month period. 

Positive contributions came from personal consumption expenditures (0.82 percentage points), private inventory investment (0.65 percentage points), exports (0.45 percentage points), state and local government spending (0.41 percentage points), and nonresidential fixed investment (0.38 percentage points). Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased, posting a positive contribution of 0.58 percentage points. These contributions were partly offset by a decrease in residential investment (-0.11 percentage points).

 

Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) advanced 1.2 percent in the first quarter, easing from a 2.5 percent increase in the previous period, mainly due to a fall in consumption of goods (-0.7 percent vs 2.6 percent in Q4), in particular durable goods (-5.3 percent vs 3.6 percent). By contrast, services consumption growth remained solid (2 percent vs 2.4 percent).

Exports jumped 3.7 percent, after a 1.8 percent rise in Q4, boosted by sales of both goods (4.7 percent vs 1.2 percent) and services (1.8 percent vs 2.7 percent). On the other hand, imports declined 3.7 percent, the largest drop since the fourth quarter of 2012, following a 2 percent climb in Q4. Purchases of goods plunged 4.4 percent (vs 0.5 percent in Q4) and imports of services fell 0.8 percent (vs 8.6 percent in Q4).

State and local spending surged 3.9 percent, the most since the first quarter of 2016, reversing a 1.3 percent drop in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Nonresidential fixed investment increased 2.7 percent, compared to a 5.4 percent advance in the previous three-month period. Investment in intellectual property products led the gains (8.6 percent vs 10.7 percent), followed by equipment (0.2 percent vs 6.6 percent). By contrast, investment in structures fell for the third straight quarter (-0.8 percent vs -3.9 percent).

Meanwhile, residential investment shrank for the fifth straight period (-2.8 percent vs -4.7 percent), the first such instance since the financial crisis.

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/gdp-growth

Durable Goods Month over Month March 2019

US Durable Goods Orders Rise the Most in 7 Months

New orders for US manufactured durable goods rose 2.7 percent from a month earlier in March 2019, rebounding from a downwardly revised 1.1 percent fall in February and above market expectations of a 0.8 percent gain. It is the biggest increase since August last year, led by transportation equipment.

Orders for transport equipment jumped 7.0 percent in March (percent vs -2.9 percent in February), driven by civilian aircraft (31.2 percent vs -25.4 percent), aircraft and parts (17.7 percent vs 4.9 percent) and motor vehicles and parts (2.1 percent vs a flat reading). Demand also increased for machinery (0.3 percent vs -0.7 percent) and computers and electronic products (2.2 percent vs 0.3 percent). Meanwhile, demand for electrical equipment, appliances, and components slowed (0.1 percent vs 1.1 percent), namely primary metals (-0.2 percent vs 0.7 percent).

Orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, advanced 1.3 percent, after increasing 0.1 percent in February, boosted by a jump in demand for computers and electronic products. It was the largest increase since July last year.

Excluding transportation, new orders edged up 0.4 percent (vs -0.2 percent in February). Excluding defense, new orders rose 2.3 percent (vs -1.7 percent in February).

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, up four of the last five months, increased $0.9 billion or 0.3 percent to $259.6 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent February increase. Transportation equipment, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, drove the increase, $1.0 billion or 1.1 percent to $90.7

billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up two of the last three months, increased $3.2 billion or 0.3 percent to $1,181.9 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent February decrease. Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three months, led the increase, $3.1 billion or 0.4 percent to $811.9 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, up twenty-six of the last twenty-seven months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.3 percent to $420.5 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent February increase. Machinery, up fifteen of the last sixteen months, led the increase, $0.7 billion or 1.0 percent to $71.6 billion.

Non-defense new orders for capital goods in March increased $4.9 billion or 6.5 percent to $80.5 billion. Shipments increased less than $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $79.0 billion. Unfilled orders increased $1.4 billion or 0.2 percent to $708.2 billion. Inventories increased $1.3 billion or 0.7 percent to $184.9 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods in March increased $1.0 billion or 7.4 percent to $13.9 billion. Shipments increased $0.1 billion or 1.0 percent to $12.6 billion. Unfilled orders increased $1.4 billion or 0.9 percent to $158.1 billion. Inventories increased $0.2 billion or 0.8 percent to $23.1 billion.

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/durable-goods-orders