US Q1 GDP Growth Revised Lower to -0.7%

The United States’ Q1 GDP growth was revised lower to -0.7% pace versus a 0.2% pace in the Advance report. It compares to a 2.2% clip from Q4. For the latest report, consumption was nudged lower to 1.8% versus 1.9% previously, and is down from a 4.4% Q4 rate. Fixed investment was bumped up to -1.3% versus -2.5% previously. This was due to a 2.8% drop in nonresidential activity, versus -3.4% previously, as structures fall 20.8% compared to -23.1% (in large part due to shrinking rig counts in the oil industry).

Residential construction was boosted to a 5.0% pace from the prior 1.3%. Government consumption was revised lower to -1.1% from -0.8%. Inventories added $15.0 bln, have of the original $30.3 bln contribution. Net exports subtracted $77.0 bln versus -$50.7 bln. The chain price index was steady at -0.1% previously, and is down from Q4′s 0.1% and Q3′s 1.4% rate. The core rate posted a 0.8% rate from 0.9% previously, and versus 1.1% in Q4 and 1.4% in Q3.

The US GDP figure was slightly better than expected and almost in line with analyst expectations. It therefore didn’t have a significant immediate impact on USD. The only dollar pair moving more strongly after the announcement is the USDCAD as the Canadian GDP number came out at the same time and was a disappointment. USDCAD is up by 0.66% at the time of writing and approaching yesterday’s shooting star high at 1.2538. Today’s high at the time of writing: 1.2518.  Fibonacci levels in the above chart point to potential support levels with 38.2% coinciding with 50 day SMA and 50% with a sideways move from mid-may. The US Dollar Index (DXY) is still trading at intraday support created by lower Bollinger Bands that have supported the index since yesterday.