US GDP Growth: NOT What It Seems!

By   Shlomo Maital

I recently wrote a column titled: Why Can’t Economists Talk Straight?, in the Jerusalem Report. It was a book review of a book by a friend, an expert on behavioral economics. It explains why economists befuddle, use impenetrable jargon, and in general confuse and obfuscate.

     Here is a recent example.   US First Quarter GDP figures were headlined as: US economy growth surprises!   3.2% growth. Way above what was expected. It was predicted that a recession was on the way. But it’s not!   Yeeayyy!    This is what journalists wrote. I can understand that. They are not trained to read the economic X-Ray data. But economists?   Where ARE they?   Nowhere.

     The first quarter GDP news is BAD BAD BAD! Not good.   Here is why.

       A large part of that 3.2%   growth was “inventories”. Nearly a quarter. Without that, growth would have been 2.5%. Much worse ….. But what IS that inventory thing???

        Here is the straight talk.   GDP growth reflects what is PRODUCED   — not what is SOLD.   Some of GDP is sold. Some is NOT. So it is put into warehouses. This is then called ‘inventories’ or ‘inventory change’.  

       A whole lot of stuff was produced in the first quarter – but companies couldn’t sell it.   So cars, fridges, computers, motorcycles, appliances, etc. went into warehouses.  

       That is bad news. Because in the 2nd quarter, companies will sell off that inventory rather than produce new stuff. That will greatly reduce GDP growth rate.   In 2nd quarter, we will see numbers that begin to herald a recession. Trust me.   Set aside some money – we ARE heading for a slowdown.

      Now, is that bad news? Or good?     As we head toward elections in November 2020, a recession will help defeat Donald Trump.   People DO vote their pockets, to some degree. And the likely Democratic candidate Joe Biden is running a campaign to enlist support of working people.   Trump has not even begun to deliver on his promises to them. And they are beginning to get it. Moreover, Biden has pulled Trump’s chain, and got Trump to attack unions (dues-sucking!).  

       So bottom line:   NOT 3.2% growth, but 2.5% growth (subtracting inventories), to reflect what people actually BOUGHT. They are buying less. This is a slowdown signal.   I can find nowhere where this is widely and clearly reported. A great shame.