Economic Growth Weakens in the First Quarter

In the first quarter of 2023, economic growth slowed to an annual rate of 1.1%, amid rising interest rates and an ongoing banking crisis. This quarter’s growth was dragged down by decreases in private inventory investment and residential fixed investment. Private inventory investment subtracted 2.26 percentage points off the headline growth rate for overall GDP,…

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Building Materials Prices Climb as Concrete, Transformer Shortages Persist

According to the latest Producer Price Index report, the prices of inputs to residential construction less energy (i.e., building materials) climbed 0.3% in March 2023 (not seasonally adjusted). Since declining the last four months of 2022, the index has increased three consecutive months by a total of 1.6% but has been relatively stable over the past…

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