U.S. ECONOMY > An Overview of the U.S. Economy

U.S. ECONOMY > An Overview of the U.S. Economy > Overview of the Economy

Overview of the Economy: Perspective from the BEA Accounts

BEA produces some of the most closely watched economic statistics that influence decisions of government officials, business people, and individuals. These statistics provide a comprehensive, up-to-date picture of the U.S. economy. The data on this page are drawn from featured BEA economic accounts.
Sign up for e-mail notifications.

National Economic Accounts:

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Quarterly data: Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.2 percent in Q3 2006, according to preliminary estimates.

2nd quarter 2006: +2.6
3rd quarter 2006: +2.2

Next release: December 21, 2006

Personal Income

Monthly data: In October 2006, real disposable personal income increased 0.6 percent.

October 2006: +0.4 (personal income)
September 2006: +0.5 (personal income)

Next release: December 22nd, 2006

Graph of Real Disposable Income and Real Consumer Spending

Industry Economic Accounts:
Annual Industry Accounts: GDP by Industry

Annual Data: In 2005, 3.7 percent growth in the services-producing sector led the overall growth of the U.S. economy (3.2 percent).

Next release: April 24, 2007

Graph of Annual Growth in Real Value Added

Graph of Annual Changes in Price Indexes for Value Added

International Economic Accounts:
U.S. Balance of Payments (International Transactions)

Quarterly and Annual data: The U.S. current-account deficit increased $5.2 billion to $218.4 billion (preliminary) in the second quarter of 2006.
	Highlights Detailed Press Release U.S. International Transactions: First Quarter of 2006 U.S. International Transactions in 2005 Previous Releases
1st quarter 2006: -$213.2 billion 2nd quarter 2006: -$218.4 billion Next release: December 18, 2006

Quarterly Data Graph of U.S. Current-Account Transactions

International Investment Position

Annual data: The U.S. net international investment position at yearend 2005 was -$2,693.8 billion (preliminary) with direct investment valued at current cost, as the value of foreign investments in the United States exceeded the value of U.S. investments abroad.
	Highlights Detailed Press Release Previous Releases The International Investment Position of the United States at Yearend 2005

International Trade

Monthly data: Total September exports of $123.2 billion and imports of $187.5 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $64.3 billion. (Joint release with the U.S. Census Bureau)

August 2006: -$69.0 billion
September 2006: -$64.3 billion

Next release: December 12, 2006

Monthly Graph of Balance on Goods and Services Trade

Regional Economic Accounts:

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State - formerly known as GSP

Annual data: Newly available data on the 2005 state distribution of GDP, showed that private services-providing industries accounted for more than 80 percent of real growth in the Great Lakes, Mideast, Plains, and New England regions.
	Highlights Detailed Press Release Previous Releases
Next release: June 7, 2007

Map of Annual Percent Change in Real Gross State Product

State Personal Income (SPI)

Quarterly data: Personal income growth slowed in all regions of the country, except the Great Lakes region.
	Highlights Detailed Press Release Previous Releases
Next release: December 20, 2006

State Per Capita Personal Income

Annual data: Per capita personal income grew 4.2 percent in 2005, 1 percentage point less than its 5.2 percent growth rate in 2004.
	Highlights Detailed Press Release Previous Releases
Next release: March 27, 2007

Personal Income for Metropolitan Areas, 2005

Annual data: Personal income growth was slower in 2005 than in 2004 in most of the nation’s MSAs.
	Highlights Detailed Press Release Previous Releases

Last updated: Monday, December 11, 2006