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4Q21 GDP: Upward Revisions, 1st Quarter Tracking Lower
February 24, 2022
Bottom Line: The second estimate of 4th Quarter GDP showed even more vigorous growth than first reported, up 7% annualized, as expected. Consumption added 210 basis points, down about 20bps from the initial report. But businesses fixed investment and residential investment were revised notably higher. Inventory investment, typically transitory, remained the most significant contributor, adding 490bps, unchanged from the initial estimate. Overall, looking through the volatility in inventory investment, the recovery remained robust, but the pace of gains of crucial categories like consumption was decelerating. This report still supports the consensus notion that growth should steadily decelerate over 2022, likely falling to the 2.5 - 4% annualized range. 1st Quarter will likely be notably lower with inventory investment giving back gains-- early estimates are in the 1.25 - 1.75% range.GDP was REVISED UP by 0.1 points to 7.0% in this second estimate of economic activity for Q4-21. This was in line with market expectations.
Economic activity was 5.6% ABOVE its year-ago level and 32.1% ABOVE its 2007 Q4 cyclical peak. Because most of the adjustment was due to new December data, this revision suggests that the economic activity increased slightly at the end of the quarter.
Consumer Spending was revised lower by -0.18% to 3.1%, contributing 2.13% to economic growth. Business Fixed Investment was revised higher by 1.09% to 3.1%, contributing 0.43% to economic growth. Residential Investment was revised higher by 1.85% to 1.0%, contributing 0.05% to economic growth. Inventory Investment was revised slightly lower, contributing 4.90% to economic growth.Net Exports were revised modestly lower with a modest decline in Exports and slight decline in Imports, contributing -0.07% to economic growth. Government Purchases were revised slightly higher and fell modestly for the 4th time in the past 12 quarters, contributing -0.45% to economic growth.
As a result of all of these changes, Real Final Sales was revised modestly higher while Real Domestic Demand was revisedhigher. The GDP Price Index was REVISED UP by 0.18 points to 7.1%, compared with market expectations of 6.0%. Economy-wide prices are now 6.0% ABOVE its year-ago level
Economic activity was 5.6% ABOVE its year-ago level and 32.1% ABOVE its 2007 Q4 cyclical peak. Because most of the adjustment was due to new December data, this revision suggests that the economic activity increased slightly at the end of the quarter.
Consumer Spending was revised lower by -0.18% to 3.1%, contributing 2.13% to economic growth. Business Fixed Investment was revised higher by 1.09% to 3.1%, contributing 0.43% to economic growth. Residential Investment was revised higher by 1.85% to 1.0%, contributing 0.05% to economic growth. Inventory Investment was revised slightly lower, contributing 4.90% to economic growth.Net Exports were revised modestly lower with a modest decline in Exports and slight decline in Imports, contributing -0.07% to economic growth. Government Purchases were revised slightly higher and fell modestly for the 4th time in the past 12 quarters, contributing -0.45% to economic growth.
As a result of all of these changes, Real Final Sales was revised modestly higher while Real Domestic Demand was revisedhigher. The GDP Price Index was REVISED UP by 0.18 points to 7.1%, compared with market expectations of 6.0%. Economy-wide prices are now 6.0% ABOVE its year-ago level
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Contingent Macro Advisors