For those (like me) concerned about how much health spending continues to increase after Obamacare, today’s second report of fourth quarter Gross Domestic Product shows concern is still warranted. Because of revisions to the advance estimate, health spending accounted for a greater share of GDP than we had thought. Overall, real GPD increased 1.8 percent … Continue reading GDP: Strong Health Spending In Weak Report →

For those (like me) concerned about how much health spending continues to increase after Obamacare, today’s flash report of fourth quarter Gross Domestic Product confirmed good news. Overall, real GPD increased 1.9 percent on the quarter, while health services spending increased only 1.6 percent, and contributed only 10 percent of real GDP growth. Growth in … Continue reading GDP: Tame Health Spending In Weak Report →

For those (like me) concerned about how much health spending continues to increase after Obamacare, the third report of third quarter Gross Domestic Product confirmed good news. Although GDP growth was revised up $14.5 billion from the second report, spending on health services was revised downward. It is good to have a breather from the … Continue reading GDP: Health Spending Almost Flat →

For those (like me) concerned about how much health spending continues to increase after Obamacare, the second report of third quarter Gross Domestic Product confirmed good news. Although GDP growth was revised up $10 billion, only a scratch was due to health spending. It is good to have a breather from the second quarter, which … Continue reading GDP: Tame Health Spending Confirmed In Strong Report →

For those (like me) concerned about how much health spending continues to increase after Obamacare, today’s flash report of third quarter Gross Domestic Product brings good news. Of course, the flash GDP report is subject to significant revision. Nevertheless, it is good to have a breather from the second quarter, which was dominated by growth … Continue reading GDP: Tame Health Spending Growth in Strong Third Quarter →

The media noted today’s third estimate of second quarter Gross Domestic Product was revised upward from the second estimate. It was a sharply revised estimate of health spending that led to the higher overall estimate. While the estimate of GDP was revised up by $12.9 billion, the estimate of health services spending was revised up … Continue reading GDP: Health Services Grew Almost 12 Times Faster Than Non-Health GDP →

Today’s second estimate of second quarter Gross Domestic Product confirms spending on health services is dramatically outpacing other “sluggish” GDP growth. Fixed investment, durable goods, and inventories continued to collapse, while imports increased. Therefore, growth in services spending grew much faster than GDP. In real (inflation-adjusted) dollars, services grew 4.3 percent (annualized, seasonally adjusted). As … Continue reading GDP: Health Services Grow Over Five Times Faster Than “Sluggish” Non-Health GDP →

As the U.S. economy continues to flirt with recession, this morning’s “flash” Dross Domestic Product release for the second quarter indicates “close to zero” growth. Business investment has collapsed, leaving personal consumption expenditures to drive what little growth there is. As a large component of personal consumption expenditures, spending on health services continues to outpace … Continue reading GDP: Health Services Spending Dominates “Close To Zero” Economic Growth →

This morning’s third estimate of GDP for the first quarter significantly increased the estimate of health spending, such that it comprised one half of GDP growth in the first quarter. Spending on health services continue to dominate weak GDP growth. Growth in health services spending of $33.3 billion (annualized) comprised 50 percent of GDP growth. … Continue reading Health Services 50 Percent of GDP Growth →

This morning’s second estimate of GDP for the first quarter was a little stronger than last month’s advanced estimate, although much of the adjustment was a smaller decrease in inventories than initially estimated. Spending on health services continue to dominate weak GDP growth. Health services spending of $19.2 billion (annualized) comprised 30 percent of GDP … Continue reading Health Services 30 Percent of GDP Growth →