July 2020

Volume 100, Number 7

July 2020

Director’s Message

A message from Mary Bohman, Acting Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis. [PDF]

GDP and the Economy: Third Estimates for the First Quarter of 2020

Real GDP decreased 5.0 percent in the first quarter of 2020, reflecting negative contributions from consumer spending, inventory investment, exports, and nonresidential fixed investment. [PDF]

Annual Update of the U.S. International Transactions Accounts

Revised quarterly and annual statistics that incorporate newly available and revised source data as well as updated seasonal factors. [PDF]

U.S. international transactions tables Interactive

Celebrating 100 Years

This Survey issue launches a year-long celebration leading to the 100^th anniversary of the first issue, published in July 1921. For almost 100 years, BEA and its predecessor agencies have reported timely, relevant, and accurate statistics on the U.S. economy.

We are pleased to present over the next 12 months a look back at a century of achievements and innovation as we highlight each decade of the Survey's history with reprints from the BEA archives, profiles of top influencers, original articles, and downloadable posters. This special content, along with other selected historical content, will be available on a dedicated centennial webpage. Check back here through June 2021 for updates.

U.S. International Transactions: First Quarter 2020

The U.S. current-account deficit decreased to $104.2 billion in the first quarter from $104.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019. [PDF]

U.S. international transactions tables Interactive

U.S. Net International Investment Position: First Quarter 2020, Year 2019, and Annual Update

The net international investment position decreased from –$11.05 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2019 to –$12.06 trillion in the first quarter of 2020. The position decreased from –$9.67 trillion in 2018 to –$11.05 trillion in 2019. [PDF]

U.S. international investment position tables PDF
U.S. international investment position tables Interactive

Centennial Content

Some Inflection Points in BEA's Pursuit of Its Mission

Former BEA Director Carol S. Carson, whose affiliation with BEA dates back many decades, discusses five inflection points in BEA’s pursuit of timely, relevant, and accurate economic information. [PDF]

Looking Back at the First Issue of the Survey of Current Business

BEA staff introduce a reprint of the first issue of the Survey, from July 1921. [PDF]

[Click to expand]

Cover of the first issue of the Survey of Current Business, published on July 1, 1921.

How BEA Aligns and Augments Source Data from the U.S. Treasury Department for Inclusion in the International Transactions Accounts

The estimates of financial-account flows, which are based on Treasury Department data, are adjusted to align the estimates with balance-of-payments concepts and to close gaps in coverage. [PDF]

Research Spotlight

Transactions of State and Local Government Defined Benefit Pension Plans: Experimental Estimates by State

Transactions of state and local government defined pension plans, including an experimental set of statistics for 2000 to 2018. [PDF]

Experimental pensions estimates by state

Mapping

GDP and Personal Income Mapping

July 2020

Director’s Message

GDP and the Economy: Third Estimates for the First Quarter of 2020

Annual Update of the U.S. International Transactions Accounts

U.S. International Transactions: First Quarter 2020

U.S. Net International Investment Position: First Quarter 2020, Year 2019, and Annual Update

How BEA Aligns and Augments Source Data from the U.S. Treasury Department for Inclusion in the International Transactions Accounts

Research Spotlight

Transactions of State and Local Government Defined Benefit Pension Plans: Experimental Estimates by State

Charts, Tables, and More

National Data

Industry Data

International Data

Regional Data

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