Fourth Quarter GDP Growth was 1.9%

The BEA says that fourth quarter GDP grew at a 1.9% annual rate. That estimate is the same as the advance report for fourth quarter GDP.  That’s down from thirds quarter growth but otherwise the highest since the third quarter of 2015.

GDP Growth by Quarter
GDP Growth by Quarter – (Source: BEA)

 

The major drags on growth, according to the BEA, were declining exports, increasing imports, and declines in federal government spending. Other components (
personal consumption expenditures (PCE), private inventory investment, residential fixed investment, nonresidential fixed investment, and state and local government spending) were up.