According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ “advance” estimate, real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded at an annual rate of 4.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020 (table 1). Real GDP climbed by 33.4 percent in the third quarter.
The GDP estimate issued today is based on incomplete or subject to further adjustment by the source agency source data (see “Source Data for the Advance Estimate” on page 4). On February 25, 2021, the “second” estimate for the fourth quarter, based on more full data, will be revealed.
What is the United States’ current GDP?
Retail and wholesale trade industries led the increase in private inventory investment. The largest contributor to retail was inventory investment by automobile dealers. Increases in both products and services contributed to the increase in exports. Consumer products, foods, feeds, and drinks, as well as industrial supplies and materials, were major contributors to the growth in goods exports. Travel was the driving force behind the increase in service exports. The increase in PCE was mostly due to an increase in services, with health care, financial services and insurance, and transportation accounting for the majority of the increase. The increase in nonresidential fixed investment was mostly due to a rise in intellectual property items, which was partially offset by a drop in structures.
The reduction in federal spending was mostly due to lower defense spending on intermediate goods and services. The drop in state and local government spending corresponded to a drop in gross investment (led by new educational structures). The rise in imports was mostly due to a rise in goods (led by non-food and non-automotive consumer goods, as well as capital goods).
After gaining 2.3 percent in the third quarter, real GDP increased 7.0 percent in the fourth quarter. The increase in real GDP was mostly due to increases in exports and residential investment, as well as increases in private inventory investment and consumer expenditure, which were somewhat offset by a decrease in state and local government spending. Imports have increased.
In the fourth quarter, current dollar GDP climbed by 14.6 percent on an annual basis, or $806.2 billion, to $24.01 trillion. GDP climbed by 8.4%, or $461.3 billion, in the third quarter (table 1 and table 3). The “Key Source Data and Assumptions” file contains more detail on the source data that underpins the estimations.
The price index for gross domestic purchases rose 7.0 percent in the fourth quarter, up 0.1 percentage point from the previous quarter (table 4). The PCE price index grew 6.3 percent, a 0.2 percentage point decrease from the previous estimate. The PCE price index grew 5.0 percent excluding food and energy prices, a 0.1 percentage point upward revision.
Updates to GDP
From the “advance” estimate, the rise in fourth-quarter real GDP was revised up 0.1 percentage point. Upward adjustments in nonresidential fixed investment, state and local government spending, and residential fixed investment were partially offset by downward revisions in consumer spending, exports, and federal government spending in the updated estimates. Imports have been reduced. Refer to the Technical Note for more information. Refer to the “Additional Details” section below for information on GDP updates.
What is the United States’ GDP in 2021?
According to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts, GDP in the United States is predicted to reach 21500.00 USD billion by the end of 2021.
Is the US economy expanding?
Retail and wholesale trade industries led the increase in private inventory investment. The largest contributor to retail was inventory investment by automobile dealers. Increases in both products and services contributed to the increase in exports. Consumer products, industrial supplies and materials, and foods, feeds, and beverages were the biggest contributions to the growth in goods exports. Travel was the driving force behind the increase in service exports. The rise in PCE was mostly due to an increase in services, with health care, recreation, and transportation accounting for the majority of the increase. The increase in nonresidential fixed investment was mostly due to a rise in intellectual property items, which was partially offset by a drop in structures.
The reduction in federal spending was mostly due to lower defense spending on intermediate goods and services. State and local government spending fell as a result of lower consumption (driven by state and local government employee remuneration, particularly education) and gross investment (led by new educational structures). The rise in imports was mostly due to a rise in goods (led by non-food and non-automotive consumer goods, as well as capital goods).
After gaining 2.3 percent in the third quarter, real GDP increased by 6.9% in the fourth quarter. The fourth-quarter increase in real GDP was primarily due to an increase in exports, as well as increases in private inventory investment and PCE, as well as smaller decreases in residential fixed investment and federal government spending, which were partially offset by a decrease in state and local government spending. Imports have increased.
In the fourth quarter, current dollar GDP climbed 14.3% on an annual basis, or $790.1 billion, to $23.99 trillion. GDP climbed by 8.4%, or $461.3 billion, in the third quarter (table 1 and table 3).
In the fourth quarter, the price index for gross domestic purchases climbed 6.9%, compared to 5.6 percent in the third quarter (table 4). The PCE price index climbed by 6.5 percent, compared to a 5.3 percent gain in the previous quarter. The PCE price index grew 4.9 percent excluding food and energy expenses, compared to 4.6 percent overall.
Personal Income
In the fourth quarter, current-dollar personal income climbed by $106.3 billion, compared to $127.9 billion in the third quarter. Increases in compensation (driven by private earnings and salaries), personal income receipts on assets, and rental income partially offset a decline in personal current transfer receipts (particularly, government social assistance) (table 8). Following the end of pandemic-related unemployment programs, the fall in government social benefits was more than offset by a decrease in unemployment insurance.
In the fourth quarter, disposable personal income grew $14.1 billion, or 0.3 percent, compared to $36.7 billion, or 0.8 percent, in the third quarter. Real disposable personal income fell 5.8%, compared to a 4.3 percent drop in the previous quarter.
In the fourth quarter, personal savings totaled $1.34 trillion, compared to $1.72 trillion in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the personal saving rate (savings as a percentage of disposable personal income) was 7.4 percent, down from 9.5 percent in the third quarter.
GDP for 2021
In 2021, real GDP climbed 5.7 percent (from the 2020 annual level to the 2021 annual level), compared to a 3.4 percent fall in 2020. (table 1). In 2021, all major subcomponents of real GDP increased, led by PCE, nonresidential fixed investment, exports, residential fixed investment, and private inventory investment. Imports have risen (table 2).
PCE increased as both products and services increased in value. “Other” nondurable items (including games and toys as well as medications), apparel and footwear, and recreational goods and automobiles were the major contributors within goods. Food services and accommodations, as well as health care, were the most significant contributors to services. Increases in equipment (dominated by information processing equipment) and intellectual property items (driven by software as well as research and development) partially offset a reduction in structures in nonresidential fixed investment (widespread across most categories). The rise in exports was due to an increase in products (mostly non-automotive capital goods), which was somewhat offset by a drop in services (led by travel as well as royalties and license fees). The increase in residential fixed investment was primarily due to the development of new single-family homes. An increase in wholesale commerce led to an increase in private inventory investment (mainly in durable goods industries).
In 2021, current-dollar GDP expanded by 10.0 percent, or $2.10 trillion, to $22.99 trillion, compared to 2.2 percent, or $478.9 billion, in 2020. (tables 1 and 3).
In 2021, the price index for gross domestic purchases climbed by 3.9 percent, compared to 1.2 percent in 2020. (table 4). Similarly, the PCE price index grew 3.9 percent, compared to 1.2 percent in the previous quarter. The PCE price index climbed 3.3 percent excluding food and energy expenses, compared to 1.4 percent overall.
Real GDP rose 5.5 percent from the fourth quarter of 2020 to the fourth quarter of 2021 (table 6), compared to a 2.3 percent fall from the fourth quarter of 2019 to the fourth quarter of 2020.
From the fourth quarter of 2020 to the fourth quarter of 2021, the price index for gross domestic purchases grew 5.5 percent, compared to 1.4 percent from the fourth quarter of 2019 to the fourth quarter of 2020. The PCE price index climbed by 5.5 percent, compared to 1.2 percent for the year. The PCE price index increased 4.6 percent excluding food and energy, compared to 1.4 percent overall.
Source Data for the Advance Estimate
A Technical Note that is issued with the news release on BEA’s website contains information on the source data and major assumptions utilized in the advance estimate. Each version comes with a thorough “Key Source Data and Assumptions” file. Refer to the “Additional Details” section below for information on GDP updates.
How much debt does America have?
“Parties in power have built up the deficit through increased spending and poorer tax collection, regardless of political affiliation,” says Brian Rehling, head of Global Fixed Income Strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute.
While it’s easy to suggest that a specific president or president’s administration led the federal deficit and national debt to move in a given direction, it’s crucial to remember that only Congress has the power to pass legislation that has the greatest impact on both figures.
Here’s how Congress responded during four major presidential administrations, and how their decisions affected the deficit and national debt.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
FDR served as the country’s last four-term president, guiding the country through a series of economic downturns. His administration spanned the Great Depression, and his flagship New Deal economic recovery plan aided America’s rebound from its financial abyss. The expense of World War II, however, contributed nearly $186 billion to the national debt between 1942 and 1945, making it the greatest substantial rise to the national debt. During FDR’s presidency, Congress added $236 billion to the national debt, a rise of 1,048 percent.
Ronald Reagan
Congress passed two major tax cuts during Reagan’s two administrations, the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 and the Tax Reform Act of 1986, both of which reduced government income. Between 1982 and 1990, Congress passed Acts that reduced revenue as a percentage of GDP by 1.7 percent, resulting in a revenue shortfall that contributed to the national debt rising 261 percent ($1.26 trillion) during his presidency, from $924.6 billion to $2.19 trillion.
Barack Obama
The Obama administration oversaw both the Great Recession and the recovery that followed the collapse of the mortgage market throughout his two years in office. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2009, which pumped $831 billion into the economy and helped many Americans avoid foreclosure, was passed by Congress in 2009. When passed by a strong bipartisan vote, congressional tax cuts added extra $858 billion to the national debt. During Obama’s two terms in office, Congress increased the national deficit by 74% and added $8.6 trillion to the national debt.
Donald Trump
Congress approved the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017, slashing corporate and personal income tax rates, during his single term. The cuts, which were seen as a bonanza for the wealthiest Americans and corporations at the time of their passage, were expected by the Congressional Budget Office to increase the government deficit by $1.9 trillion at the time of their passing.
The federal deficit climbed from $665 billion in 2017 to $3.13 trillion in 2020, despite the Treasury Secretary’s prediction that the tax cuts would reduce it. Some of the rise was due to tax cuts, but the majority of the increase was due to successive Covid relief programs.
The public’s share of the federal debt has risen from $14.6 trillion in 2017 to more than $21 trillion in 2020. The national debt is made up of public debt and intragovernmental debt (amounts owed to federal retirement trust funds such as the Social Security Trust Fund). It refers to the amount of money owed by the United States to external debtors such as American banks and investors, corporations, people, state and municipal governments, the Federal Reserve, and foreign governments and international investors such as Japan and China. The money is borrowed in order to keep the United States running. Treasury banknotes, notes, and bonds are included. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), US savings bonds, and state and local government series securities are among the other holders of public debt.
“The national debt is growing at a rate it hasn’t seen in decades,” says James Cassel, chairman and co-founder of Cassel Salpeter, an investment bank. “This is the outcome of the basic principle of spending more money than you earn.” Cassel also points out that while both major political parties have spoken seriously about reducing the national debt at times, discussions and strategies have stopped.
When both sides pose discussing raising the debt ceiling each year, the national debt is more typically utilized as a bargaining chip. The United States would default on its debt obligations if the debt ceiling was not raised. As a result, Congress always votes to raise the debt ceiling (the maximum amount of money the US government may borrow), but only after parties have reached an agreement on other legislation.
Why is the US economy growing?
As the economy continues to recover from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, US GDP growth surged in the fourth quarter, expanding at a 6.9% annual rate, up from the preceding four quarters’ rate of growth. Increased inventory investment and increased service consumption accounted for all of GDP growth in the fourth quarter. Real GDP increased by 5.5 percent in the first four quarters of 2021, the fastest rate since 1984.
In the fourth quarter, the economy was most likely producing at or near its full potential. The economy was still trending 1.4 percent below pre-pandemic levels. Even if the pandemic had not occurred, the economy is unlikely to have continued to develop at the same rate in 2020 and 2021 as it had in previous years. Prior to the pandemic, forecasters projected a slowdown since the economy was close to or at maximum employment, making it improbable that job gains would continue at the same rate. Furthermore, because of higher fatalities and limited immigration, which resulted in a smaller-than-expected labor force, and low investment, which resulted in a smaller-than-expected capital stock, the pandemic itself has certainly diminished potential.
Even while the economy was near to where it would have been had the epidemic and the government’s response not occurred, the economy’s makeup was drastically changed. On the supply side, employment remained low (because to low labor force participation), but this was compensated for by longer average hours and improved productivity. Final expenditures were biased towards commodities and residential investment, rather than services, business fixed investment, inventories, and net exports, on the demand side. In the fourth quarter, the demand side began to take on a more regular composition, but it remained highly skewed.
Is the economy doing well right now?
Indeed, the year is starting with little signs of progress, as the late-year spread of omicron, along with the fading tailwind of fiscal stimulus, has experts across Wall Street lowering their GDP projections.
When you add in a Federal Reserve that has shifted from its most accommodative policy in history to hawkish inflation-fighters, the picture changes dramatically. The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow indicator currently shows a 0.1 percent increase in first-quarter GDP.
“The economy is slowing and downshifting,” said Joseph LaVorgna, Natixis’ head economist for the Americas and former chief economist for President Donald Trump’s National Economic Council. “It isn’t a recession now, but it will be if the Fed becomes overly aggressive.”
GDP climbed by 6.9% in the fourth quarter of 2021, capping a year in which the total value of all goods and services produced in the United States increased by 5.7 percent on an annualized basis. That followed a 3.4 percent drop in 2020, the steepest but shortest recession in US history, caused by a pandemic.
In 2050, which country will be the wealthiest?
The Gross Domestic Product of the United Kingdom is expected to be 3.58 trillion US dollars in 2050, with a per capita income of 49,412 US dollars. The current economic wealth disparity between the United Kingdom and Germany will narrow dramatically. With the annual expected rise in the UK working population, BZZZZy 2050 (from 346 billion US dollars to 138 billion US dollars). Although the long-term effects of Brexit are more difficult to forecast, the United Kingdom’s economic league table is likely to drop only one rank.
In 2021, which country will have the greatest GDP?
What are the world’s largest economies? According to the International Monetary Fund, the following countries have the greatest nominal GDP in the world:
Is the US GDP increasing or decreasing?
Consumers splurged again after a summer spike in coronavirus infections subsided, while businesses replaced depleted inventory, boosting the US economy substantially in the fourth quarter.
Business reopenings and growing immunizations unlocked a pool of pent-up demand, helping the economy post its best year of growth since 1984.
According to the Commerce Department, the nation’s gross domestic product, or the value of all goods and services produced in the United States, expanded at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.9% in the October-December period. Bloomberg polled economists, who predicted a 5.3 percent increase in GDP.
The economy was limited by the spread of the delta variant, supply chain bottlenecks, skyrocketing inflation, and the waning impacts of federal stimulus measures in the third quarter, when it only grew by 2.3 percent.
The economy grew by 5.7 percent last year, resulting in a new high of 6.4 million employment. As a result of the epidemic shuttering businesses and keeping Americans from their typical activities, the economy declined 3.4 percent in 2020, losing 9.4 million jobs.
However, the health issue has made 2021 a tumultuous comeback year, which is projected to persist at least through the first half of this year.
Consumer expenditure, which accounts for around 70% of economic activity, increased by 3.3 percent in the last three months of the year, following a 2% increase the previous quarter. After the delta spike subsided, Americans resumed dining out, traveling, and other activities early in the quarter. Many people started their holiday shopping early to avoid supply shortages.
The milder but more contagious omicron form, on the other hand, was causing shoppers to burrow down again towards the end of the fourth quarter. In December, retail sales declined by 1.9 percent. According to Ian Shepherdson, chief economist of Pantheon Macroeconomics, the downturn is more likely to stifle economic growth in the first three months of 2022.
Delta is a Greek word that means ” “Shepherdson noted in a note to clients that the change “created minimal disturbance both to consumer demand and labor supply.” In the current quarter, he expects the economy to grow at a 1% annual rate.
However, with omicron instances declining as swiftly as they soared, the economic effects should be reversed by February, according to Capital Economics economist Paul Ashworth.
Barring the consequences of more varieties, this should set the foundation for another robust year of growth in 2022. The Federal Reserve estimates that growth would slow to around 4% as federal financial support decreases and people spend down their $2.5 trillion in COVID-19-related savings.
However, this would still be a robust increase, especially when compared to the 2.2 percent annual growth rate prior to the pandemic.
“In a note to clients, Wells Fargo economist Sam Bullard said, “The economy is set to face the same problems: a virus that won’t go away, severe supply concerns, and ongoing price pressure.”
But, according to Oxford Economics economist Kathy Bostjancic, all three obstacles should subside this year. And, just as a receding health crisis entices Americans to resume traveling and other activities, ongoing high pay growth founded in prolonged labor shortages is anticipated to fuel strong consumer spending.
What is China’s debt to the United States?
Over the previous few decades, China has steadily increased its holdings of US Treasury securities. The Asian nation owns $1.065 trillion, or 3.68 percent, of the $28.9 trillion US national debt, more than any other foreign entity save Japan as of October 2021.