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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

GDP INCREASES IN SECOND QUARTER
Growth Rate Revised Up in “Third” Estimate
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 3.9 percent in the second quarter of 2015, according to the “third”
estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The growth rate was revised up 0.2 percentage point from
the “second” estimate released in August. In the first quarter, real GDP increased 0.6 percent.
Quarter-to-Quarter Growth in Real GDP
6

4
Percent

GDP highlights
The second-quarter increase in real GDP mainly
reflected a rise in consumer spending. Spending
on services rose, notably on health care and food
services and accommodations. Spending on nondurable goods also rose, as did spending on durable goods, notably on motor vehicles and parts.
Exports of goods also increased, notably industrial supplies and materials. Business investment,
state and local government spending, and residential investment also rose.

2

0

-2
III IV
2011

Offsetting these contributions to GDP growth,
imports, a subtraction in the calculation of GDP,
increased.

I

II III
2012

IV

I

II III
2013

IV

I

II III
2014

IV

I

II
2015

Real GDP growth is measured at seasonally adjusted annual rates.

Revisions
The revision to second-quarter GDP growth reflected upward revisions to: consumer spending, mainly spending
on services; business investment, notably in structures; and residential investment.
These contributions were partly offset by a downward revision to inventory investment.
For more information, see the technical note.
Corporate profits
Corporate profits increased 3.5 percent at a quarterly rate in the second quarter after decreasing
5.8 percent in the first quarter.

Quarter-to-Quarter Growth in Corporate Profits
15
10

 Profits of domestic nonfinancial corporations

Over the last 4 quarters, corporate profits increased 0.6 percent.

5

Percent

rose 1.9 percent after falling 5.3 percent.
 Profits of domestic financial corporations
rose 9.6 percent after falling 6.1 percent.
 Profits from the rest of the world rose 2.9
percent after falling 6.9 percent.

0
-5

-10
-15
III

2011

IV

I

II

III

2012

IV

I

II

III

2013

IV

I

II

III

IV

2014

I

II

2015

Corporate profits growth is measured as the percent change from the previous quarter.

BEA data—including GDP, personal income, the balance of payments, foreign direct investment, the input-output accounts, and economic
data for states, local areas, and industries—are available on the BEA Web site: www.bea.gov. E-mail alerts are also available.
NOTE: The “advance” estimate of GDP for the third quarter of 2015 will be released on October 29, 2015.
Contact: Jeannine Aversa (202) 606-2649

Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce