US gross domestic product revised slightly lower in Q4

The second estimate of GDP growth showed that the US gross domestic product increased at a 3.2% annualized rate in the fourth quarter, revised slightly down from the previously reported 3.3% pace and identical forecast by economists.

The US economy stood at firm ground in the fourth quarter amid strong consumer spending, but it appears to have lost some speed in early 2024.
The economy grew at a 4.9% pace in the third quarter, keeping the upward trajectory on 1.9% expansion in 2022, 2.5% in 2023, and continuing to grow above Federal Reserve’s estimation at 1.8%.

The modest downward revision in the last three months of 2023 was mainly driven by a downgrade to private inventory investment, while inflation remained mild but revised slightly up from previously reported estimates in the fourth quarter.

On the other hand, many economists believe that the economic growth momentum is fading, following warning signals after a number of US key economic indicators, such as retail sales, housing starts, durable goods orders and factory production declined in January, although see the problem as a transitory and not expecting the economy to slide into recession.

After release of the GDP data, markets shift their focus towards the US central bank, which is widely expected to start cutting interest rates this year, after the Fed raised its policy rate by 525 basis points since March 2022.

The expectations for the start of rate cuts has been shifted from initial schedule in March to May and again pushed to June, as the US policymakers showed that they are not in hurry with policy easing and require more evidence that inflation is steadily on track towards 2% target.