The BEA Wire | BEA's Official Blog

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.

Information Services Led Growth in the Fourth Quarter

Information; construction; and professional, scientific, and technical services were the leading contributors to the increase in U.S. economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2015. Overall, 16 of 22 industry groups contributed to the 1.4 percent increase in real GDP in the fourth quarter.

BEA to Host Webinar on Wednesday to Explain Change Simplifying How Private Funds Report

The Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Treasury Department are preparing to implement a change that will simplify how certain cross-border investments by or into private funds are reported on Treasury International Capital, or TIC, surveys of portfolio investment and BEA surveys of direct investment.

Statistics on Federal Refundable Tax Credits for Every State Now Available

For years, BEA has provided state-by-state information on people’s incomes, which includes refundable tax credits and rebates. But BEA did not break out the refundable tax credit statistics.

Now, for the first time, BEA is making available the amounts and types of federal refundable tax credits broken out for each state, giving policymakers, researchers and academics a new tool for economic analysis.

February 2016 Trade Gap is $47.1 Billion

The U.S. monthly international trade deficit increased in February 2016 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $45.9 billion in January (revised) to $47.1 billion in February, as imports increased more than exports. The previously published January deficit was $45.7 billion. The goods deficit increased $0.9 billion from January to $64.7 billion in February. The services surplus…

Value of U.S. Assets Decreased More Than U.S. Liabilities in Fourth Quarter 2015

The U.S. net international investment position was -$7,356.8 billion (preliminary) at the end of the fourth quarter of 2015 as the value of U.S. liabilities exceeded the value of U.S. assets. At the end of the third quarter, the net position was -$7,311.6 billion (revised).

Personal Income Decelerates in February

Personal income increased 0.2 percent in February after increasing 0.5 percent in January. Wages and salaries, the largest component of personal income, decreased 0.1 percent in February after increasing 0.6 percent in January.