Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.0 percent in the third quarter of 2017, according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the second quarter, real GDP increased 3.1 percent.

According to the BEA, the 3rd-quarter increase reflects positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE), private inventory investment, nonresidential fixed investment, exports, and federal government spending. Negative contributions came from residential fixed investment, and state and local government spending. Imports, which subtract from GDP decreased.

Personal Income Decelerates

Current-dollar personal income increased $113.7 billion in the third quarter, compared with an increase of $119.1 billion in the second. The deceleration in personal income primarily reflected decelerations in personal dividend income, in rental income, and in wages and salaries that were offset by an acceleration in government social benefits, a smaller decrease in personal interest income, an acceleration in nonfarm proprietors’ income, and a smaller decrease in farm proprietors’ income.

Disposable personal income increased $73.6 billion, or 2.1 percent, in the third quarter, compared with an increase of $125.1 billion, or 3.6 percent, in the second. Real disposable personal income increased 0.6 percent, compared with an increase of 3.3 percent.

Savings Rate Decreases

Personal saving was $494.8 billion in the third quarter, compared with $545.6 billion in the second. The personal saving rate — personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income — was 3.4 percent in the third quarter, compared with 3.8 percent in the second.

Contribution Breakdown

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