GDP Increases in Fourth Quarter

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to the “initial” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.4 percent.

Fourth-quarter GDP highlights The increase in real GDP reflected increases in consumer spending, business investment, exports, and inventory investment.

Wholesale Trade Led Growth in the Third Quarter

Wholesale trade; information; and finance and insurance were the leading contributors to the increase in U.S. economic growth in the third quarter of 2018. Overall, 19 of 22 industry groups contributed to the 3.4 percent increase in real GDP in the third quarter.

Guam GDP Increases in 2017

The estimates of GDP for Guam show that real GDP—GDP adjusted to remove price changes—increased 0.2 percent in 2017 after increasing 0.3 percent in 2016. For comparison, real GDP for the United States increased 2.2 percent in 2017 after increasing 1.6 percent in 2016.

Northern Mariana Islands’ GDP Increases in 2017

The estimates of GDP for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands show that real GDP—GDP adjusted to remove price changes—increased 25.1 percent in 2017, after increasing 28.2 percent in 2016. For comparison, real GDP for the United States (excluding the territories) increased 2.2 percent in 2017 after increasing 1.6 percent in 2016.

Coming Soon: More Timely Data on the Health of States' Economies

BEA’s annual gross domestic product by state report provides a crucial look into the health of states’ economies. Soon businesses, consumers, and policymakers will get a sneak peak at a more timely and frequent version of the report.