The US economy continues to surprise on the upside, despite gloomy global growth prospects
Global & Regional Focus Notes
21 February 2012
• High-frequency data reveal an upward momentum in personal outlays at the beginning of 2012, supported by gains in employment and income growth. However, the deleveraging process of US households points to a subdued pace of consumption growth around 2.0% throughout 2012. • Although business investment growth will likely rebound again in Q1 12, we expect it to decelerate to 6.5% in 2012 from 8.6% in 2011, as the labor productivity slowdown underscores further deceleration in corporate profit growth.
• Housing conditions are improving, pointing to a continued rebound in residential construction spending and investment, but the recovery process will be rather gradual.
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