Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Data to show US economy Q4 slow-down

Data out on Friday is expected to show growth of the US economy slowed in the final quarter of last year. 

The initial reading for the fourth quarter - the final full quarterly figure under an Obama administration - could potentially show US retailers missing out on good returns in the important holiday sales season. 

The figures come at a time when the new US President is still working out his plans for the country's economy. 

Nick Harper reports from New York. 

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TAKE PKG


TAKE VO 
As January rolls around it brings resolutions and reckonings. Personal plans to lose weight or save money. 
And on a national level, a certain amount of soul-searching about the state of the economy. 
TAKE VO 
Thanksgiving and Christmas shopping helped push growth in the final quarter of 2016.
But the 2.2% estimate, while decent enough, is below the third quarter's 3.5%. 
Even so, Independent Economist Steve Blitz says it still shows the economy is on an upwards trajectory. 

Blitz - SOT 
"It's really a question of whether or not the economy is accelerating or not. Because the Fed seems to think that it is and as a result they believe you're going to start seeing higher inflation as the year gores on, that's the consensus view, but the markets aren't really priced for that."

TAKE VO 
The latest GDP figures come after a week of economic engagement for the new US President. 
Donald Trump met with the CEOs of the three American carmakers, urging them to bring back jobs and factories to the US. 
And he met business leaders from some of the biggest US companies to push his plan to revitalize the American manufacturing industry.
The CEO of Dow Chemical Andrew Liveris spoke after the meeting. 

Liveris - SOT

TAKE VO 
But much of President Trump's economic vision - like cutting company regulations and increasing government spending on infrastructure - is still not set in stone. 
TAKE VO 
Which leaves the Federal Reserve trying to second guess the President's potential policies. Here's Fed chairwoman Janet Yellen. 

Yellen - SOT 

TAKE VO 
Two or three interest rate rises are expected this year with the first likely coming at March's meeting. 
Come Friday and the release of the GDP data America's new President is likely to be critical of the results. 
The fruits of his labour, to get America's economy moving again, will take some time to appear in future GDP readings. 
In the meantime the economy will need to sustain a recovery amid a high level of uncertainty. 
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