Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

U.S. economic growth accelerates in fourth-quarter; corporate profits slow
Reuters via Nasdaq ^ | March 30, 2022 | by Lucia Mutikani

Posted on 03/30/2022 7:12:38 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - The U.S. economy grew robustly in the fourth quarter, the government confirmed on Wednesday, but momentum has slowed significantly amid a surge in COVID-19 infections at the start of the year, snarled supply chains and soaring inflation.

Gross domestic product increased at a 6.9% annualized rate, the Commerce Department said in its third estimate of fourth-quarter GDP growth. That was revised slightly down from the 7.0% pace estimated in February.

The economy grew at a 2.3% rate in the third quarter. Growth is 3.1% above its pre-pandemic level. Economists polled by Reuters had expected GDP growth would be revised up to a 7.1% rate. The revision to the fourth-quarter GDP reading reflected downgrades to consumer spending and export growth.

For all of 2021, the economy grew 5.7%, the strongest since 1984, after the government provided nearly $6 trillion in pandemic relief. It contracted 3.4% in 2020, the biggest drop in 74 years.

Corporate profits growth slowed significantly in the fourth quarter as domestic financial corporations suffered a decrease. There were also moderate increases in profits of domestic nonfinancial corporations and from the rest of the world.

Corporate profits with inventory valuation and capital consumption adjustments increased at a $20.4 billion rate in the fourth quarter after rising at a $96.9 billion pace in the third quarter.

(Excerpt) Read more at nasdaq.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: economy; gdp

1 posted on 03/30/2022 7:12:38 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

The .gov loves inflation—it helps them brag about “economic growth” while average folks get crushed by rising prices.


2 posted on 03/30/2022 7:15:38 AM PDT by cgbg (A kleptocracy--if they can keep it. Think of it as the Cantillon Effect in action.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
Corporate profits with inventory valuation and capital consumption adjustments increased at a $20.4 billion rate in the fourth quarter after rising at a $96.9 billion pace in the third quarter

Inflation on inventory is good, until you need to replenish.

3 posted on 03/30/2022 7:16:48 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Is it factored in that the GDP grew in dollars, but those dollars are worth significantly less?


4 posted on 03/30/2022 7:17:21 AM PDT by ReaganGeneration2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

I supposed GDP is not in inflation adjusted dollars. I also believe that government spending is part of the GDP calculation. If anyone know this for a fact, please advise.


5 posted on 03/30/2022 7:18:10 AM PDT by ConservativeInPA (Scratch a leftist and you'll find a fascist )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

But what was the GDP increase in REAL (I.e., factoring out inflation) terms?


6 posted on 03/30/2022 7:18:30 AM PDT by House Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cgbg

Agreed, this why things took that kind of a hit from 1981 to 1983 because of the corrections Reagan implemented, but in later 1983 and on into 1984, things got that good bit better.


7 posted on 03/30/2022 7:42:58 AM PDT by OttawaFreeper ("The Gardens was founded by men-sportsmen-who fought for their country" Conn Smythe, 1966 )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: cgbg

The .gov loves inflation

The more something costs the more tax money increases democrats love that gig it’s why they don’t worry about it.

Some of that paying your fair share going on aka stick it to everybody.


8 posted on 03/30/2022 8:44:02 AM PDT by Vaduz ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: cgbg
The .gov loves inflation—it helps them brag about “economic growth” while average folks get crushed by rising prices.

Partner, you said a mouthful with that statement.

9 posted on 03/30/2022 9:31:47 AM PDT by TheConservativeTejano (The Business of America is Business)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

More output, but declining profits. Guess what comes next?


10 posted on 03/30/2022 10:04:43 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“Sorry, I’m not a biologist.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson