Bureau of Economic Analysis

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, a unit of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the federal agency responsible for measuring the U.S. economy, or as some say, BEA is the nation’s accountant.

Have you ever wondered what foreigners spend their money on while visiting the United States or what Americans buy while overseas? BEA is often asked for this information, but until recently, didn’t have the means to fully respond. So, we embarked on a research project aimed at finding the answers.

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Personal income in the United States increased 0.4 percent in March after increasing 0.3 percent in February. Wages and salaries rose 0.3 percent in March after rising 0.4 percent in February.

Current-dollar disposable personal income (DPI)—income after taxes—increased 0.4 percent in March after increasing 0.2 percent in February.

Real DPI—income adjusted for taxes and inflation—increased 0.2 percent in March after decreasing…

Personal income increased $50.3 billion, or 0.4 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI) increased $42.5 billion, or 0.4 percent, in March, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $29.6 billion, or 0.3 percent. In February, personal income increased $39.6 billion, or 0.3 percent, DPI increased $29.4 billion, or 0.2 percent, and PCE increased $93.7 billion, or 0.9 percent, based on…

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 2.2 percent in the first quarter of 2012 after increasing 3.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

First-quarter highlights The slower economic growth reflected slower growth in inventory and fixed investment by businesses:

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 2.2 percent in the first quarter of 2012 after increasing 3.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

In the first quarter of 2012, defense spending declined at an 8.1 percent annual rate, reflecting decreases in compensation of employees (accompanying a drop in the number of active-duty military personnel), in purchases of goods and services, and in investment for defense equipment.

Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- increased at an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the first quarter of 2012 (that is, from the fourth quarter to the first quarter), according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Durable-goods manufacturing, professional, scientific, and technical services, and information services were the leading contributors to U.S. economic growth in 2011, according to advance statistics on the breakout of real gross domestic product (GDP) by industry from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.