US: Real GDP expands by 2.6% (YoY) in Q4 vs 2.3% expected

"Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018," the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported in its initial estimate

Key takeaways from the press release

• In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.4 percent.
• Current dollar GDP increased 4.6 percent, or $233.2 billion, in the fourth quarter to a level of $20.89 trillion.
• In the third quarter, current-dollar GDP increased 4.9 percent, or $246.3 billion.
• Current-dollar personal income increased $225.1 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with an increase of $190.6 billion in the third quarter. 
• The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 2.2 percent in 2018, compared with an increase of 1.9 percent in 2017.