According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of two percent in the third quarter. GDP in the second quarter of 2012 was only 1.3%. (Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, October 26, 2012.) U.S. GDP in dollar value is on track to increasing to $15.8 trillion this year. The increase in the GDP is certainly good for the U.S. economy, but why it increased in the third quarter is intriguing. Here is what happened in the third-quarter GDP that the mainstream media missed: GDP in the U.S. economy is calculated by looking at specific factors, such as consumption by consumers, government spending, and net imports over exports. In calculating third-quarter GDP, there was an increase of 9.6% in government spending and investments—in the previous quarter, there was a decrease of 0.2% in government spending and investments. National defense spending increased by 13.0% in the U.S. economy in the third quarter of 2012, compared to a 0.2% decrease in the second quarter. On the other hand, personal consumption in the U.S. economy increased in the third quarter by a mere two percent. Exports actually fell by 1.6% from an increase of 5.3% in the second quarter, and imports also fell 0.2% in the third quarter from an increase of 2.8% last quarter. Factories in the U.S. economy are still far from running at full speed. In August, industrial production in the U.S. fell 1.4 % from a rise of 0.7% in July. In September, it increased only 0.4% from the decline in August. (Source: Federal Reserve, October 16, 2012.) What all this data shows is that the increase in third-quarter GDP was stretched by government spending. The government spent more, and the GDP rose. If you took the increase in government spending out, the GDP wouldn’t look as rosy as it does. But the government can’t continue to spend at the speed it did in the third quarter. The U.S. economy is weak; there have been no structural changes to the economy. Since 2010, our GDP has seen growth of 10.6%. (Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, October 26, 2012)—excellent growth, some would suggest. But our national debt in the same period has grown more than 30.5%—from $12.3 trillion at the beginning of 2010 to $16.1 trillion at the end of September 2012. (Source: United States Department of the Treasury, October 26, 2012.) On the surface, it’s a good sign that our GDP is growing—but that growth is being fuelled by debts growing faster than what we make. The U.S. economy is becoming the family that earns $1.00 and spends $1.50. In the short term, we might be alright; but ... Read More