|
A report released by the Commerce Department on Thursday showed the U.S. economy grew by much less than expected in the first quarter of 2024. The Commerce Department said gross domestic product increased by 1.6 percent in the first quarter after surging by 3.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023. The GDP growth in the first quarter reflected increases in consumer spending, residential fixed investment, nonresidential fixed investment, and state and local government spending. However, the positive contributions were partly offset by a decrease in private inventory investment and an increase in imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP. The Commerce Department said the notable slowdown in GDP growth compared to the previous quarter primarily reflected decelerations in consumer spending, exports, and state and local government spending and a downturn in federal government spending. The report showed consumer spending growth slowed to 2.5 percent in the first quarter from 3.3 percent in the fourth quarter, with an increase in spending services partly offset by a decrease in spending on goods. On the inflation front, the Commerce Department said the personal consumption expenditures price index surged 3.4 percent in the first quarter after advancing by 1.8 percent in the fourth quarter. Excluding food and energy prices, the PCE price index spiked 3.7 percent in the first quarter after jumping by 2.0 percent in the fourth quarter. Powered by Commodity Insights
|