1/28 – MetroIntelligence Economic Update by P. DUFFY

MetroIntelligence Economic Update by P. DUFFY

4Q21 GDP growth soars to 6.9 percent in advance estimate

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 2.3 percent. The increase in real GDP primarily reflected increases in private inventory investment, exports, personal consumption expenditures (PCE), and nonresidential fixed investment that were partly offset by decreases in both federal and state and local government spending. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.

https://www.bea.gov/news/2022/gross-domestic-product-fourth-quarter-and-year-2021-advance-estimate

 

Pending home sales slide 3.8 percent in December and 6.9 percent year-on-year

Pending home sales fell 3.8 percent in December, denoting two straight months of declines, and were down 6.9 percent year-on-year.  All four major U.S. regions posted both month-over-month and year-over-year drops in contract activity. Existing-home sales are expected to decline by 2.8% in 2022, and home prices are expected to move higher by 5.1% due to the ongoing housing shortage, even as builders ramp up production.

https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/pending-home-sales-slide-3-8-in-december

 

Federal Reserve punts on interest rate hikes, will end asset purchases in early March

The Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee decided to keep the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent. With inflation well above 2 percent and a strong labor market, the Committee expects it will soon be appropriate to raise the target range for the federal funds rate. The Committee decided to continue to reduce the monthly pace of its net asset purchases, bringing them to an end in early March.

https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20220126a.htm5