We mentioned in a previous essay that an economist receives certain Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics updates and that allows them to “guesstimate” next year’s GDP growth by adding up average labor productivity growth (Y/L) to labor force growth. Remember Y (GDP) equals Y/L multiplied by L and percentage growth in Y is approximately equal to the sum of the other two variables: Y/L and L. The sum approximates GDP growth and requires no mental gymnastics with complex mathematics of any kind. A wise student would learn what’s on offer by these government update services and realize simple familiarity is half the game in everything. The economics pundits are not ten feet tall. They simply follow simple materials that the typical student does not have and has no idea that these materials exist.
BEA News: Gross Domestic Product by Industry, 2nd quarter 2019 and annual update:
“The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has issued the following news release today:
“Professional, scientific, and technical services; real estate and rental and leasing; and mining were the leading contributors to the increase in U.S. economic growth in the second quarter of 2019. The private goods‐ and services‐producing industries, as well as the government sector, contributed to the increase. Overall, 14 of 22 industry groups contributed to the 2.0 percent increase in real GDP in the second quarter.”
The full text of the release [archived PDF] on BEA’s website can be found here.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides this service to you at no charge. Visit us on the Web at www.bea.gov. All you will need is your e-mail address. If you have questions or need assistance, please e-mail subscribe@bea.gov”