U.S. economic growth surges
WASHINGTON — A surge in U.S. economic growth lifted stocks Tuesday to record highs and showed the United States is putting distance between itself and struggling economies around the world.
Fueled by hiring gains, cheaper gas and rising confidence, consumers and businesses drove growth to a sizzling 5 percent annual rate last quarter. Though the economy is likely cooling a bit, its solid pace is brightening hopes for 2015.
The economic strength could also shape the Federal Reserve’s timetable for raising interest rates from record lows.
The government’s third and final estimate of growth for the July-September period was the strongest for any quarter in 11 years. The result cheered investors. In midafternoon trading, the Dow Jones industrial average was up about 93 points to 18,053, the first time it’s traded above 18,000.
In its report Tuesday, the government sharply upgraded third-quarter growth from its previous 3.9 percent estimate. Much of the increase came from consumer spending on health care and business spending on structures and software.
The economy has been benefiting from sinking energy prices, which have helped keep overall inflation ultra-low. Gas prices have fallen for 88 straight days, according to AAA, the longest consecutive decline on record. Cheaper gas has acted like a tax cut to free up money for Americans to spend on other items, including cars, clothes and appliances.
Last quarter’s growth was the fastest since summer 2003, and it followed a 4.6 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter. The government separately reported Tuesday that in November, consumer spending rose the most in three months and income by the most in five months. Both figures brightened hopes for the 2015 economy.
“After four years of rocky recovery the U.S. economy is now hitting its stride with a notable acceleration in growth,” said Gus Faucher, senior economist at PNC Financial Services Group. “Growth should remain good next year, with lower gasoline prices a big plus for consumers.”
Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, said he now expects healthy consumer spending to fuel economic growth of 2.6 percent in the current October-December period. And Guatieri foresees solid growth of 3.1 percent next year. That would be the best performance since the economy grew 3.3 percent in 2005.
Since the recession officially ended in June 2009, the economy has struggled to regain full health. Five years of growth have averaged an anemic 2.2 percent.
