US economic growth in Q2 revised up to 3.1%

Piles of debris outside homes that were flooded after Hurricane Harvey hit the area of Spring in Texas. Harvey, which struck Texas last month, and Hurricane Irma, which hit Florida early this month, temporarily curbed economic activity but rebuilding
Piles of debris outside homes that were flooded after Hurricane Harvey hit the area of Spring in Texas. Harvey, which struck Texas last month, and Hurricane Irma, which hit Florida early this month, temporarily curbed economic activity but rebuilding is expected to boost growth in the fourth quarter and early next year. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

WASHINGTON • The United States economy grew a bit faster than previously estimated in the second quarter, recording its quickest pace in more than two years, but the momentum probably slowed in the third quarter as hurricanes Harvey and Irma temporarily curbed activity.

Gross domestic product (GDP) increased at a 3.1 per cent annual rate in the April to June period, the Commerce Department said in its third estimate yesterday.

The upward revision from the 3 per cent pace of growth reported last month reflected an increase in inventory investment.

Growth last quarter was the fastest since the first quarter of 2015 and followed a 1.2 per cent pace of growth in the January to March period. Economists had expected that second-quarter GDP growth would be unrevised at a 3 per cent rate.

Harvey, which struck Texas, has been blamed for much of the decline in retail sales, industrial production, home building and home sales last month. Further weakness is anticipated this month after Irma slammed into Florida.

Rebuilding is, however, expected to boost growth in the fourth quarter and early next year.

Growth estimates for the July to September period are just above a 2.2 per cent pace.

With GDP accelerating in the second quarter, the economy grew 2.1 per cent in the first half of the year. Still, economists believe growth this year will not breach President Donald Trump's ambitious 3 per cent target.

Growth in consumer spending, which makes up more than two-thirds of the US economy, was unrevised at a 3.3 per cent rate in the second quarter as an increase in spending on services was offset by a downward revision to durable goods outlays. Consumer spending in the second quarter was the fastest in a year.

Amid robust consumer spending, businesses accumulated a bit more inventory than previously reported to meet the strong demand.

Inventory investment added just over one-tenth of a percentage point to GDP growth in the second quarter. It was previously reported to have been neutral.

Growth in business spending on equipment was unchanged at a rate of 8.8 per cent, the fastest pace in nearly two years.

Investment on nonresidential structures was revised to show it increasing at a 7 per cent pace, up from the previously reported 6.2 per cent rate.

Both export and import growth were revised slightly lower. Trade contributed two-tenths of a percentage point to GDP growth last quarter.

Housing was a slightly bigger drag on growth in the last quarter than previously reported, subtracting 0.3 percentage point from output.

REUTERS

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 29, 2017, with the headline US economic growth in Q2 revised up to 3.1%. Subscribe