By Peter Bergman (MoneyAmped.com)
The United States economy exhibited a growth rate of 2.1% on an annual basis during the period spanning from April to June. This performance is notable, as it has been sustained despite elevated interest rates. The government’s recent announcement has confirmed that its previous estimate needs to be more balanced.
GDP Growth Has Slowed, but the Economy Is Growing
The nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the second quarter exhibited a moderate deceleration compared to the economy’s 2.2% annual growth observed during the January-March period.
The second-quarter economic expansion was driven by consumer spending, business investment, and state and local government outlays.
The economy and job market have exhibited notable durability despite the Federal Reserve’s substantial increase in interest rates to address the elevated inflation levels experienced last year, reaching a level unseen in the past forty years. The Federal Reserve has implemented a series of 11 increases to its benchmark rate since March 2022, giving rise to apprehensions regarding the potential recessionary impact of escalating borrowing costs.
Thus far, it has been observed that inflation has experienced a notable alleviation without inducing significant economic distress. This development has fostered optimism regarding the central bank’s ability to successfully execute a soft landing strategy, wherein the economy is moderated to effectively combat elevated inflationary pressures while mitigating the occurrence of a distressing recession.
However, the elevated rates have had a significant impact. The growth in consumer spending experienced a decline from April to June, with an annual rate of only 0.8%. This figure represents a substantial decrease from the government’s earlier projection of 1.7% and marks the lowest recorded value since the first quarter of 2022.
Businesses Continue to Receive Tremendous Investment
However, it is noteworthy that business investment, excluding housing, experienced a substantial increase at an annualized rate of 7.4%, marking the most rapid growth observed over a year. The expenditure and investment by state and local governments experienced a notable increase of 4.7% during the most recent quarter, marking the most substantial quarterly growth since 2019.
The report released on Thursday represents the government’s conclusive and ultimate assessment of the economic growth experienced during the period spanning from April to June.
It is widely believed that there is an acceleration in growth during the current July-September quarter, which can be attributed, at least in part, to the continued expenditure of numerous consumers. The American populace demonstrated a notable inclination towards attending cinema screenings of the highly successful summer films “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” while also exhibiting a propensity for indulging in the acquisition of tickets for live performances by renowned artists such as Taylor Swift and Beyonce. The stability of business investment is maintained.
According to estimations made by economists, it has been projected that the economy experienced a growth of approximately 3.2% annually during the third quarter. This expansion rate, if realized, would represent the most rapid quarterly growth observed in one year. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, it has been projected that growth from July through September has potentially surpassed a 4% annual rate, even when considering more optimistic estimates.
The Likelihood of Maintaining Rapid Growth Rates Is Still Low
However, it is improbable that the acceleration in growth will persist. It is anticipated that the economy will experience a decline in its strength during the last quarter of the year. The pace of hiring and income growth is exhibiting deceleration. According to economists, the savings accumulated by numerous Americans during the pandemic through federal stimulus checks will likely diminish by the subsequent quarter.
The economy is confronted with many challenges anticipated to impede its growth trajectory. The factors encompassing the current situation consist of escalating oil prices, the recommencement of student loan repayments, the ramifications stemming from the United Auto Workers strike, the termination of childcare assistance implemented during the pandemic, and the imminent prospect of a government shutdown commencing this weekend.
The cumulative impact of these factors above is expected to impede the capacity of American citizens to engage in discretionary spending, thereby potentially exerting a detrimental influence on the overall state of the economy.
According to Rubeela Farooqi, the chief U.S. economist at High-Frequency Economics, it has been observed that growth continues to exhibit a positive trajectory and is anticipated to experience an acceleration in the ongoing quarter.
However, it is crucial to consider the forthcoming trend, specifically about household expenditure. The projection indicates a continuation of positive growth in the foreseeable future, albeit with a notable deceleration anticipated during the year’s final quarter.
