US GDP in the fourth quarter of 2009

This annual rate increase in the fourth quarter of 2009 is from the third quarter of 2009. In the third quarter of 2009 GDP increased by 2.2%, according to the Commerce Department.

Factors influencing the increase in GDP in fourth quarter of 2009

The U.S. Commerce Department reports that the increase in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected positive contributions from private inventory investment, exports, personal consumption expenditures, and nonresidential fixed investment.

Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased, as well.

Motor vehicle output added 0.44 percentage points to the fourth quarter change in real GDP after adding 1.45 percentage points to the third quarter change.

Final sales of computers subtracted 0.01 percentage point from the fourth-quarter change in real GDP after subtracting 0.08 percentage point from the third-quarter change.