|

US: Real GDP growth in Q3 (second estimate) stays unchanged at 3.5% as expected

"Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter of 2018, according to the "second" estimate," the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported today.

Key takeaways from the press release

  • In the second quarter, real GDP increased 4.2 percent.
  • With this second estimate for the third quarter, the general picture of economic growth remains the same; upward revisions to nonresidential fixed investment and private inventory investment were offset by downward revisions to personal consumption expenditures (PCE) and state and local government spending.
  • Real gross domestic income (GDI) increased 4.0 percent in the third quarter, compared with an increase of 0.9 percent (revised) in the second quarter. 
  • The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.7 percent in the third quarter, compared with an increase of 2.4 percent in the second quarter.
  •  The PCE price index increased 1.5 percent, compared with an increase of 2.0 percent.
  • Excluding food and energy prices, the PCE price index increased 1.5 percent, compared with an increase of 2.1 percent.

Author

Eren Sengezer

As an economist at heart, Eren Sengezer specializes in the assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of macroeconomic data, central bank policies and political developments on financial assets.

More from Eren Sengezer
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD bulls regain control above 0.6950 amid USD retreat

AUD/USD regains traction and extends the previous day's bounce from the weekly low, aiming for 0.7000 in Asia on Friday. The overnight pullback in US bond yields keeps the US Dollar below an 18-month high, which in turn offers some support to the pair. Meanwhile, hawkish RBA expectations also keep the major underpinned.

USD/JPY holds gains near 158.00 after Japan's weak Household Spending data

USD/JPY clings to gains around 158.00 after data showed on Friday that Japan's Household Spending fell for the ninth straight month, undermining the Japanese Yen. Meanwhile, the US Dollar remains depressed as the overnight fall in US bond yields counters a hawkish Fed and geopolitical uncertainties, could cap any downside in the pair.

Gold looks to regain $4,200 amid pre-US CPI repositioning

Gold is stretching higher toward $4,200 on Friday, extending recovery from two-month lows. US Dollar eases in tandem with Oil prices and Treasury yields, awaiting US sentiment data. The tide seems to be turning in favor of Gold, but the daily RSI is still bearish.


Starknet rally tests key breakout amid proposed Layer-1 transition
Starknet (STRK) is up 16% so far on Friday, advancing its steady recovery of nearly 200% since mid-August. The rally aligns with the rising demand for financial anonymity in the cryptocurrency market and the CEO of StarkWare, Eli Ben-Sasson’s proposed transition of Starknet to Layer-1 to achieve quantum security by 2027.
The inflation illusion: How government formulas shape the data
Every month, the government releases a barrage of economic statistics. Employment, inflation, consumer spending, economic growth, and countless other measurements are presented as objective facts that policymakers, investors, and the public can use to understand the economy. But what happens when the methodology used to produce those numbers changes?
The UK 30-year gilt just hit a 1998 high. Is that good or bad for the British Pound?
The yield on the UK's 30-year government bond, or gilt, went through 6% on October 1 for the first time since early 1998, and on Monday the Pound was at its strongest against the Euro since June 2025. The gilt market's 28-year high is mostly someone else's. Since early May, the 30-year gilt yield has risen about 0.15 of a percentage point and the US 30-year about 0.7.