U.S. GDP Growth Is Unrevised; Corporate Profits Weaken

Economic growth maintained a moderate pace early this year. Gross domestic product, adjusted for price inflation, increased an unrevised 3.1% during Q1'19. The 3.2% y/y growth rate remained the strongest increase since Q2'15. The rise matched expectations in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Personal spending growth was reduced but business fixed investment was strengthened.

After-tax corporate profits with inventory and capital consumption adjustments declined a lessened $63.9 billion (+2.3% y/y), the first decline since Q3'16. Before-tax profits with IVA & CCA fell $59.3 billion (+3.4% y/y). Domestic nonfinancial profits fell $68.1 billion (+6.5% y/y), the first decline since Q3'17. Profits earned abroad rose $7.4 billion (1.2% y/y), and earnings in the domestic financial sector gained $1.4 billion (-13.4% y/y).

The contribution to growth in real GDP from inventory investment was unchanged at 0.6 percentage points following a 0.1 percentage point addition in Q4'18. Improvement in the foreign trade deficit added a lessened 0.9 percentage points to growth following two quarters of subtraction. Export growth of 5.2% (2.8% y/y) was the largest gain since Q2'18. Imports fell 1.9% (+2.1% y/y) and reversed the Q4 rise.

Growth in final sales to domestic purchasers of 1.6% (2.7% y/y), revised from 1.5%, remained the weakest rate of growth since Q4'15. Consumer spending rose a lessened 0.9% (2.7% y/y), remaining the weakest rise in a year. A 2.4% decline (+3.3% y/y) in durable goods demand was led by a 17.2% shortfall (-1.6% y/y) in motor vehicle & parts sales. Demand for home furnishings & household equipment rose 1.1% (2.1% y/y) which compared to the earlier estimate of a modest decline. Sales of recreational goods & vehicles rose an improved 12.7% (8.3% y/y). Nondurable product sales increased 2.3% (3.2% y/y). The rise continued to center in the "other" category, as apparel & shoes demand fell 4.0% (+4.2% y/y). Food & restaurant sales declined 3.3% (+0.9% y/y) and demand for gasoline & oil eased 1.0% (+0.7% y/y). Demand for services rose a downwardly revised 1.0% (2.4% y/y), the weakest growth in a year. Transportation sales rose a downwardly revised 2.4% (0.5% y/y) and demand for financial services & insurance improved 1.6% (1.5% y/y). Health care services demand rose a strong 5.6% (3.2% y/y) and housing & utilities purchases increased 1.0% (1.5% y/y). Offsetting these increases was a little changed 1.9% decline (+0.6% y/y) in the demand for recreation services, the second decline in three quarters.

Business fixed investment grew a strengthened 4.4% (5.3% y/y) after a 5.4% Q4'18 rise. Investment in structures was increased to 4.4% (2.6% y/y) following two quarters of decline. Equipment demand fell an unchanged 1.0% (+3.4% y/y) as an 8.1% decline (+2.4% y/y) in "other" equipment offset a 6.2% rise (5.0% y/y) in transportation equipment. Investment in intellectual property products surged an upwardly revised 12.0% (9.7% y/y). Industrial equipment sales declined 2.9% (+2.1% y/y) and demand for information processing equipment held steady (3.6% y/y).

The 2.0% decline (-2.9% y/y) in residential investment was less than estimated last month, but it remained 3.8% below the peak in Q4'17.

Government expenditures grew at an improved 2.8% rate (1.9% y/y). State & local government spending growth of 4.6% (1.8% y/y) was accompanied by a 0.1% easing (+2.0% y/y) in federal government expenditures. A 4.0% jump (5.3% y/y) in defense spending offset a 5.8% decline (-2.5% y/y) in nondefense outlays.

The GDP chain price index increased an unrevised and expected 0.9% (AR, 1.9% y/y), the weakest y/y rise in three years. A 0.8% rise had been expected. The PCE chain price index increase of 0.5% (1.4% y/y) was bolstered by a 1.2% rise (1.7% y/y) in the index excluding food & energy. The business fixed investment price price index rose 1.5% both q/q and y/y, and the residential price index gained 2.5% (4.0% y/y). The government spending price index increased 1.1% (2.3% y/y).

The GDP figures can be found in Haver's USECON and USNA database. USNA contains virtually all of the Bureau of Economic Analysis' detail in the national accounts. Both databases include tables of the newly published not seasonally adjusted data. The Action Economics consensus estimates can be found in AS1REPNA.