Weak business spending drags on U.S. growth
BY CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER & MARTIN CRUTSINGER Associated Press
Friday, October 26, 2012
10/26/12 at 5:41 AM
WASHINGTON - Companies are delaying purchases of computers, industrial equipment and other long-lasting manufactured goods, a trend that's slowing the U.S. economy.
A fourth straight month of lackluster corporate spending led many economists on Thursday to trim their forecasts for growth in the July-September quarter.
The government will issue its first estimate of third-quarter growth Friday, the last snapshot of overall economic activity before the presidential election.
The troubling report on business confidence overshadowed a drop in applications for unemployment aid and a slight increase in the number of people who signed contracts to buy homes.
Orders for durable goods, products expected to last at least three years, rose 9.9 percent in September, the Commerce Department said. But most of the increase was driven by a spike in aircraft orders, which are volatile and plummeted in the previous month.
Corporate investment helped the U.S. economy emerge from the Great Recession three years ago. But businesses have grown more cautious since spring, seeing tepid growth in consumer spending and declines in exports.
The disappointing report on durable goods led several economists to downgrade their forecasts for third-quarter economic growth.
Michael Feroli, an economist at JPMorgan Chase, lowered his forecast to an annual rate of 1.6 percent, down from 1.8 percent.
Peter Newland, an economist at Barclays Capital, reduced his forecast to a rate of 1.8 percent from 2 percent.
Either figure would reflect little improvement from the April-June growth rate of only 1.3 percent.
Business investment has slumped even as consumers have become more hopeful about the economy in recent months.
Consumer confidence rose in October to a five-year high. Retail spending increased in September, mainly because Americans bought more cars, iPhones and appliances.
And home sales are up this year, contributing to a nascent housing recovery.
Consumer spending drives nearly 70 percent of economic activity.
"We have the consumer to thank for keeping the economy above water," Feroli said.
Still, the gains are far from what is needed to ignite the economy and spur rapid hiring.
Economists at JPMorgan Chase project consumer spending could increase at an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the third quarter. That's better than the 1.5 percent rate in the second quarter, but still anemic by historical standards.
Meanwhile, sluggish business investment has dragged on job creation at U.S. factories. Manufacturers slashed 20,000 jobs in the third quarter. Factories had added 194,000 jobs in the previous three quarters.
Original Print Headline: Corporate spending still disappointing
Associated Images:
Dryers are seen from the inside of another clothes dryer (foreground) at a Lowe's store in Framingham, Mass. U.S. companies remained cautious in September and delayed orders for long-lasting manufactured goods that signal investment plans. STEVEN SENNE/Associated Press file
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