The economic growth of the United States slows down the expenses of consumers

In the United States, economic growth has slowed down at the end of last year, because trade and investment decreased and the country was affected by hurricanes and strikes.

The economy developed at an annual rate of 2.3% between October and December, against 3.1% in the previous three months, according to the US trade department.

The pace, fueled by a solid growth in consumption expenditure, was nevertheless lower than the economists had not planned.

The figures come in the midst of an increased uncertainty on the path of the greatest economy in the world, because the American president Donald Trump calls for an upheaval of politics.

His plans include major reductions in public spending and the implementation of commercial prices, which could be announced this week.

The American economy had to develop at around 2.5% in the last three months of 2024, but analysts have said that the details of the trade department report suggested that growth has remained solid.

“The American consumer was unstoppable, supported by the creation of wealth, a strong labor market and loans,” said Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, adding that global growth was last year was “Surprisingly strong”.

Consumer spending – the largest engine in the US economy – increased by 4.2%.

But analyst Samuel Tombs of the macroeconomics of Pantheon noted that consumer spending had been raised mainly by a leap in purchases of goods, including cars.

He said it could indicate a temporary burst of purchase with people worried about the impact of potential prices.

“We warned of the warning against the conclusion that the underlying domestic demand remains inappropriate,” he added.

The report has shown a drop in exports and imports of goods – contractions in activity which nevertheless had an almost neutral impact on the overall growth figure.

Economists subtract imports from growth calculations because they are not produced at the national level.

Private investment, which, according to analysts, was probably struck by the strike of the Boeing aerospace giant, also dropped.

Analysts also warned that the figures, which are preliminary and revised, could be affected by the disturbances of two large hurricanes that hit the United States in the fall.