Growth likely slowed as fuel costs Rose: overview of the U.S. economy

April 24, 2011, 12: 22 EDT by Timothy r. Homan

April 24 (Bloomberg) — the economy The us probably grew at a slower pace in the first quarter as a jump in the price of gasoline caused consumers to cut, economists, said that a report this week will show.

Gross domestic product grew at a 1.9% annual pace after increasing at a rate of 3.1 per cent in the previous three months, according to the median estimate of 66 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News prior to April 28 report of the Ministry of trade. Other data may show business investment remains a pillar of economic recovery, while real estate prices fell.Reserve Federal decision makers, when they meet this week, say likely that they will complete the second round of stimulus 600 billion, as expected, through the end of June to help support the recovery. Although companies such as General Electric Co. and Apple Inc. are among the beneficiaries of its expenditures of material gains and software, households are feeling the pinch of food higher and fuel prices. "" The economy has hit a bit of a soft patch, "said Ryan Sweet, a senior economist of Moody Analytics Inc. in West Chester, Pennsylvania). "If we continue to get these sharp at the pump breaks, which will be a major success with consumers." It is a point of no return for consumers. "The estimate of GDP is the first of three for the quarter, with the other versions planned for may and June, when more information becomes available.CoolsHousehold purchases, which represent approximately 70% of the largest economy in the world, spending increased at an annual 2.1% pace a gain of 4 per cent in the last three months of 2010, the best performance in four years, according to the survey median.Of the higher prices for the products of first necessity such as food and energy can could hurt to spend on less essential items. The cost of a gallon of regular gasoline rose 18 percent in the first three months of the year, according to AAA, the nation more great motoring organization. The price rose another 6 percent so far this month, reaching $3.85 a gallon on 21 April, the highest since September 2008.Prices for all goods and services pink last quarter to a 2.4% annual pace, the biggest gain in more than two years, economists expected that GDP will also show.U.S. manufacturers are perform better than consumers as the increase in demand from emerging countries like China supplements gains in business spending. "" Good form ""We are really good form to accelerate the growth of industrial revenues", Jeffrey Immelt, chief executive officer of GE based in Fairfield, Connecticut, said on a conference call last week. "All the precursors are in place: good equipment levels, the growth of good backward, levels of good service, international growing two numbers and we invest to build a competitive advantage."Orders for durable goods increased by 2% in March after a decline of 0.6 per cent the previous month, economists forecast the Commerce Department figures will show April 27. actions of manufacturers of machines exceeded the broader market since the beginning of the year. The Standard & Poor Supercomposite machines Index rose by 9.8% compared to a 6.3% increase for policy makers of S & P 500 Index.Fed, in two days of meetings beginning on April 26, are likely to confirm that they will complete a program of the Board of Treasury purchase of 600 billion as scheduled at the end from June, according to economists like Neal Soss, Chief Economist at Credit Switzerland in New York. S. Ben Bernanke, President will hold his first press conference, after the Declaration of the Central Bank on 27 April, giving him the opportunity to discuss his next steps.Home PricesHousing continues to fight as mount seized. Home prices in 20 cities for the 12 months through February fell 3.3%, the largest decline since November 2009, according to the Bloomberg survey. The S & P/Case-Shiller index is due on 26 April sales of new homes, due tomorrow of the Department of trade, rose 12 per cent for a 280 000 annual pace in March, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Purchase of 250,000 of February of the pace is at the lowest data dating back to 1963.Pending sales or contract for existing houses, rose 1.7 percent in March after an increase of 2.1 percent the prior montheconomists forecast, the National Association of Realtors will report on April 28. gains in employment, with higher stock values, are outweighed by the increase in the price of gas and the decline in home values when it comes to measuring the attitudes of consumers.The Thomson Reuters/University of the final index of Michigan for April, due April 29, is expected to climb up to 70 of 67.5 at the end of March, according to economists surveyed. The Conference Board, based in New York on 26 April can present its gauge of confidence rose to 64.5 of 63.4 last month, the survey showed.

-With the help of Alex Tanzi in Washington. Editors: Carlos Torres, Vince Golle

To contact the reporter on this story: Timothy r. Homan in Washington to thoman1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Wellisz in Washington to cwellisz@bloomberg.net

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