The BEA Wire | BEA's Official Blog

State Personal Income: First Quarter 2016

State personal income grew 1.0 percent on average in the first quarter of 2016, the same pace as in the fourth quarter of 2015. Personal income grew in every state except Wyoming and North Dakota with first-quarter personal income growth rates ranging from -1.3 percent in North Dakota to 1.5 percent in Washington.

U.S. Current-Account Deficit Increases in First Quarter 2016

The U.S. current-account deficit—a net measure of transactions between the United States and the rest of the world in goods, services, primary income (investment income and compensation), and secondary income (current transfers)—increased to $124.7 billion (preliminary) in the first quarter of 2016 from $113.4 billion (revised) in the fourth quarter of 2015. As a percentage of U.S. GDP, the deficit increased to 2.7 percent from 2.5 percent.…

Information Industry Group Led Growth Across States in the Fourth Quarter

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia in the fourth quarter of 2015, according to statistics on the geographic breakout of GDP released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Real GDP by state growth, at an annual rate, ranged from 3.0 percent in Indiana to –3.4 percent in Wyoming. Information; construction; and professional, scientific, and technical services were the leading contributors to…

April 2016 Trade Gap is $37.4 Billion

The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in April 2016 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $35.5 billion in March (revised) to $37.4 billion in April, as imports increased more than exports. The previously published March deficit was $40.4 billion. The goods deficit increased $1.4 billion from March to $58.8 billion in April. The services surplus decreased $0.5…

BEA Moves Ahead on Second Phase to Combat Potential for Residual Seasonality in GDP

The Bureau of Economic Analysis is moving ahead on the second phase of a three-pronged plan to refine its estimates of gross domestic product by reducing potential sources of “residual” seasonality.  That’s when seasonal patterns remain in data even after they are adjusted for seasonal variations.

Personal Income Rises in April

Personal income increased 0.4 percent in April, the same increase as in March. Wages and salaries, the largest component of personal income, increased 0.5 percent in April after increasing 0.4 percent in March.

GDP Increases in First Quarter

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.8 percent in the first quarter of 2016, according to the “second” estimate released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The growth rate was 0.3 percentage point higher than the “advance” estimate released last month. In the fourth quarter of 2015, real GDP increased 1.4 percent.

First Estimates of GDP Will Include More Census Bureau Data

The Bureau of Economic Analysis is constantly working with our data partners to make GDP — our signature measure of the ever-changing U.S. economy — even better. As part of that effort, our sister statistical agency, the U.S. Census Bureau, has committed to providing key data for GDP even faster.

Getting this crucial data faster will make the information used to calculate initial estimates of quarterly gross domestic product more…

March 2016 Trade Gap is $40.4 Billion

The U.S. monthly international trade deficit decreased in March 2016 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit decreased from $47.0 billion in February (revised) to $40.4 billion in March, as imports decreased more than exports. The previously published February deficit was $47.1 billion. The goods deficit decreased $6.0 billion from February to $58.5 billion in March. The services surplus…

Personal Income Rises in March

Personal income increased 0.4 percent in March after increasing 0.1 percent in February. Wages and salaries, the largest component of personal income, increased 0.4 percent in March after decreasing 0.1 percent in February.

GDP Increases in First Quarter

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.5 percent in the first quarter of 2016, according to the “advance” estimate released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2015, real GDP increased 1.4 percent.

Industry in Focus: What's the Economic Impact of the Information Industry?

The Information industry, more than just about any other industry, illustrates just how much the U.S. economy has changed over time. Not all that long ago, in previously used industry classification systems, the information sector didn’t have its own category.  Many of its activities fell under other industries such as manufacturing, communications, and business services, but weren’t always separately identified.