US economy surprises with faster than expected growth

- By Natalie Sherman
- Business reporter, New York
Image supply, Getty Images
A development employee with the American flag within the background
The US economy grew faster than expected within the closing months of final 12 months, pushed by sturdy family and authorities spending.
The world’s largest economy expanded at an annual fee of 3.3% over the three months to December, the Commerce Department stated.
That was down from 4.9% within the prior quarter, however a lot faster than the 2% many analysts had expected.
For 2023, the economy grew at an annual fee of 2.5%, up from 1.9% in 2022.
The figures cap a 12 months that has been characterised by surprising financial resilience, even because the US central financial institution raised borrowing prices sharply and inflation cooled.
“Whichever way you slice it, this report caps a year of stellar economic growth performance,” stated Olu Sonola, head of US regional economics at Fitch Ratings. “The momentum of economic growth going into 2024 is looking very good.”
The figures are a boon for US President Joe Biden, who has struggled to persuade the general public that the economy stays wholesome, because it downshifts from the increase after the pandemic shock.
In a speech in Wisconsin on Thursday, he argued that White House insurance policies, together with investments in inexperienced vitality, roads and different infrastructure, have contributed to the resilience.
“Experts, from the time I got elected, were insisting that the recession was just around the corner,” he stated. “Well, we’ve got really strong growth…. We obviously have more work to do but we’re making real progress.”
Mr Biden stated he believed the message was beginning to get by means of.
In latest months, surveys have proven shopper sentiment bettering. The inventory market is up, petrol costs are down and unemployment stays low.
While the soar in costs since 2019 stays a sticking level for voters, the inflation fee has additionally eased, falling to 3.4% in December, after hovering to extra than 9% in 2022.
California resident Ha Le stated she was acutely aware of not being on a relentless lookout for the bottom price petrol.
But the 44-year-old, a company employee within the retail trade and a Democrat, stated it was nonetheless tough to simply accept the large soar in grocery and little one care costs of the previous couple of years.
“My general thoughts on the economy are that it’s not the worst, right? We’ve recovered somewhat from the pandemic terror, but it’s not great,” she stated.
Many economists had expected households to chop again spending as costs eroded their budgets and for enterprise exercise to chill within the face of costlier borrowing prices, warning of the dangers of a downturn, or recession.
But that state of affairs has not materialised, as excessive financial savings left over from the pandemic, an uptick in wage growth, and different authorities spending offered a cushion. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2022, the US economy grew 3.1%.
On Wall Street, the bettering image has led to hypothesis that the Federal Reserve, which raised rates of interest sharply to struggle inflation, would possibly begin to reverse course.
But analysts stated the power of the economy portrayed within the report on gross home product (GDP) will relieve strain on the financial institution to behave rapidly.
“Those hunting for clues that the Federal Reserve is ready to take an axe to interest rates will be sorely disappointed,” stated Sophie Lund-Yates, lead fairness analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.