Last year the GDP data was revised back to 1929.
This year the data was revised back to 2014. This Month more revisions.
The Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, has three values: The Annualized (quarter to quarter) growth and the Same Quarter Growth rate, and the end of the year annual rate of growth. Former President Obama is the only President to never have a end of year growth rate of 3.0%. Last July when the annual revisions to the GDP were performed the data was revised back to 1929. This year the data was revised back to 2014. The GDP value for 2015 was 2.9%. There were some surprises in the Preliminary Second Quarter GDP report.
There were substantial revisions to the data from 2014 through 2019 first quarter. Last Year the GDP data was revised back to 1929. This column produced an article last July titled "Giddy GDP." Revisions are all part of "the game." There are often advanced values, preliminary values, and final values. Those "final values" are often revised on an annual basis.
The headline annualized GDP growth was revised from 2.1%. to 2.0%. The 2.1% rate "beat" expectations from most, who were expecting 1.5% plus or minus. The 2.0% as "expected."
Where was the growth? Last quarter all sectors added to the annualized GDP. That did not happen this quarter Originally, Personal Consumption expenditures (PCE) increased 4.3%. with Durable goods spiking 12.9%. Gross Private Domestic Investments (GPDI) fell by 5.5%, with structures falling 10.6% and Net Exports fell 5.2%. Goods fell 5.0% and services fell 5.6% for exports. Government Consumption expenditures rose by 5.0%
Personal Consumption Expenditures were revised higher to 4.7%. This should have boosted the revised GDP value. GPDI dropped even lower from -5.5% to -6.1%. This dropped caused some concern when the advance GDP value was released. Exports were also revised lower from -5.2% to -5.8%. Government consumption expenditures were revised lower to only 4.5% growth.
Personal Consumption Expenditures contributed 3.1% to the GDP this quarter, up from 2.85%. Yes, PCE offset some of the negative values this month, and then some. GPDI negated 1.1% of GDP growth, originally it "only" decreased GDP by 1.0%. Net exports originally contributed a -0.65% to GDP. now it is -0.72%. GCE contributed 0.77% to GDP, down from 0.85%
What were the quarter to quarter contributions to GDP? PCE added 2.85% to the 2.1% gain, with durable goods rising 4.4%. GPDI subtracted 1.00% from GDP. Net Exports reduced GDP by 0.65%. GCE increased GDP by 0.85% (Table 2 of the report - Page 8.)
The Same quarter GDP number disappointed at 2.3% with the advance GDP reporting. It was unchanged this revision. . The trajectory, pre-revisions, was eleven consecutive quarters of growth. We were over 3%. The same quarter GDP data was revised lower for 2018Q3, 2018Q4 and 2019Q1. The same quarter GDP was revised higher for 2016Q3 and Q4, 2017 Q1 through Q4, 2018Q1 and Q2
Where was the growth for same quarter GDP originally reported? PCE rose by 2.6% . GPDI grew by 4.1% Net Exports fell 1.5% while net imports rose 2.6%. GCE grew by 2.4%
Personal Consumption Expenditures were revised to 2.7%. GPDI is now 4.0%. Exports fell by 1.7%. Imports remained at 2.6%.GCE only grew at 2.2
The Gross Private Domestic Investment number is important. The talking heads were lamenting the -6.1% GDPI number quarter to quarter. We saw a -1.8% reading during 2018Q2 and a -1.7% Q2Q reading during 2016Q2. This should not have been a surprise. The 4.0% growth from 2018Q2 is more important. It shows consistency in investments.
The data was decidedly mixed.The 2.0% growth could bolster Q3 growth by jumping less this quarter than it could have jumped this quarter. Still no 3.0% annual growth rate for former President Obama. Always watch the revisions.
It's the Economy.