MNI: 5 Things We Learned From Advance Third Quarter GDP Data>

By Holly Stokes, Sara Haire, and Kevin Kastner

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following are the key points from the 

advance third quarter GDP data released Friday by the Bureau of 

Economic Analysis: 

     - Real GDP +3.0% vs +2.7% expected, while chain price index +2.2% 

vs +1.8% expected.

     - Core PCE price index +1.3% in 3Q vs +0.9% in 2Q, but year/year 

rate slowed to +1.3% in 3Q vs +1.5% in 2Q, slowest since 4Q 2015.

     - Inventory investment much stronger than 2Q (+$35.8 vs +$5.5), 

while net export gap narrowed. 

     - PCE and nonresidential fixed investment positive, but slower 

rates of growth than in 2Q, with investment in structures down 5.2%. 

Residential investment and government spending declined, but at slower 

rates than in 2Q. 

     - BEA could not quantify the impact of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma 

on the data. Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, 

which are not included in the GDP data.

     ** MNI Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 ** 

[TOPICS: MAUDS$,M$U$$$,MAUDR$]