Gross Domestic Product

Q1 2012 GDP 2.2%

Q1 2012 real GDP showed 2.2% annualized growth.. This article overviews and graphs the BEA statistical release for first quarter gross domestic product.

 

 

Q1 GDP saw much less of an increase in private inventories build up, part of investment, an increase in personal consumption and a not to be believed increase in exports.

As a reminder, GDP is made up of: Y=C+I+G+{\left(X-M\right)} where Y=GDP, C=Consumption, I=Investment, G=Government Spending, (X-M)=Net Exports, X=Exports, M=Imports*.

The below table shows the percentage point breakdown of individual GDP components contribution to overall GDP. The difference, or spread, between Q4 and Q1 components is by percentage points.

 

Comparison of Q4 2011 and Q1 2012 GDP Components

Component

Q4 2011

Q1 2012

Spread
GDP +2.96 +2.20 -0.76
C +1.47 +2.04 +0.57
I +2.59 +0.77 -1.82
G –0.84 –0.60 +0.24
X +0.37 +0.73 +0.36
M –0.63 –0.74 -0.11

Q3 2011 GDP 3rd Revision: 1.8%

Q3 GDP 2011 was revised down another 0.2 percentage points to 1.8%.. Consumer spending was revised significantly downward due to a large downward revision to medical expenditures. GDP was initially reported to be 2.5% for the third quarter, then revised to 2.0% on the second estimate report and now a measly 1.8% for the final, 3rd revision.

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