Kristian Rouz — In a rather odd development, the US GDP estimate has been revised upwards due to the better-than-expected performance of the agricultural sector. Whilst the international trade headwinds and the dollar's strength have continued to affect the pace of expansion, the rising farm inventories added to the broader growth.
The Commerce Department says overall inventory investment has increased, coupled with the ongoing rebound in manufacturing, as well as consumer spending, and business sentiment. Pre-tax corporate profits also increased, providing a solid backdrop for President Trump's tax reform plan.
The Q2 expansion entailed the sluggish pace of growth in the previous quarter at 1.2 percent. Experts say the combined negative effect of the hurricanes could subtract up to 0.6 percent from Q3 growth, which might, however, be offset by the ongoing gains in domestic investment.
"The destruction caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and the resulting disruption… are expected to be a drag on third-quarter growth," Jim Baird of Michigan-based Plante Moran Financial Advisors said. "Nonetheless, the economy remains on track."
The Commerce Department says the value of stockpiles added $5.5 billion, exceeding previous estimates. Meanwhile, the gains in consumer expenditures were 3.3 percent in Q2, and business investment rose by 7 percent instead of the 6.2 percent previously reported. US exports rose 3.5 percent, whilst imports added 1.5 percent, amidst the realignment of foreign trade spearheaded by President Trump.
Farm inventories in the form of unsold goods, including crops, added to the GDP reading. Inflation, at the same time, remained muted, and below the Federal Reserve's target — experts say the dollar's strength is suppressing prices on imported consumer goods, thus hampering the broader inflation measures.
"The data available so far suggest that the firming in real inventory accumulation between the second quarter and third quarter could be significant and could add a full percentage point to growth in the third quarter," Daniel Silver of JPMorgan in New York said.
In another report, the Commerce Department said wholesale stockpiles increased by 1.0 percent in August, and overall trade in the goods deficit fell by 1.4 percent to $62.9 billion in August.
This, plus the rebuilding efforts in Texas and Florida — where, as President Trump says, local and federal authorities are doing "a great job" — might indicate that Q3 growth may remain unchanged or even exceed the revised Q2 readings, but there's little clarity in that regard yet.
The current Q3 consensus estimates put the pace of economic expansion at 2.5 percent unless a positive shift in the broader economy of foreign trade propels the US expansion higher.
"Keep in mind that these are estimates, and a whole lot has happened in just a few short weeks," said Mike Loewengart of E*Trade says.
The GDP report, plus the fiscal reform plan unveiled by President Trump Wednesday, have lifted stock prices, hampering the value of US Treasury bonds. Yields rose, as did natural US interest rates, suggesting the Federal Reserve is likely to continue with rate hikes regardless of the hurricane disruption and weak inflation.
