Tag: Colorado Real GDP

Colorado Real GDP Currently Stronger than U.S.

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On December 10th, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released quarterly GDP data for Colorado (2005 to Q2 2015). The Q2 year-over-year Real GDP for Colorado increased by 4.8% compared to 2.7% for the U.S.

The following trends are evident in the comparison of the year-over-year GDP data for Colorado and the U.S:
• The correlation coefficient between these two variables is .69
• The U.S. was stronger during the period Q1 2006 through Q1 2007.
• Colorado outperformed the U.S. significantly between Q2 2007 and Q4 2009 (This was during the recession).
• The U.S. was stronger coming out of the recession for most of 2010 – from Q1 2010 to Q3 2010.
• For the next two years, from Q4 2010 to Q3 2012 the rates of growth for Colorado and the U.S. were similar.
• From Q4 2012 to the present, the Colorado GDP expanded at a faster rate than the U.S. GDP. Beginning in Q1 2014 the gap between the two rates became greater as a result of the strength of the oil and gas industry in Colorado.
• That gap has since narrowed in 2015 as the price of oil has declined and oil and gas production has fallen off.

Colorado Real GDP

 

The following trends are evident in the comparison of the year-over-year GDP data for Colorado and the Colorado wage and salary employment:
• The correlation coefficient between these two variables is .72
• Employment grew at a higher rate from Q1 2006 to Q2 2007 than the Real GDP.
• Generally, the Real GDP grew at a greater rate from Q3 2007 to Q2 2011 than employment growth.
• From Q3 2011 to Q1 2014 the rate of growth for employment was generally greater than the Real GDP growth.
• From Q2 2014 to present the Real GDP grew at a greater rate than employment. This was in part largely because of the increase in oil and gas production in Colorado during this period.
• As the price for a barrel has dropped and oil and gas production has fallen off the gap between the two rates has declined. This caused a much greater decline in the growth rate for GDP than employment.

Colorado Real GDP

As can be seen the growth of the Colorado Real GDP and the U.S. Real GDP are closely related. As well, there is a strong relationship between the rate of growth for state Real GDP and employment.

Mining Sector Largest Contributor to State’s GDP in 2014

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In early June the Bureau of Economic Analysis released Gross Domestic Product at the state level for two-digit NAICS Codes.

Since 1997 Colorado Real GDP has grown at a faster rate than the Real GDP for the U.S. (Sum of States) in 11 of 17 years. The 2014 U.S. rate of growth was 2.2% compared to 4.7% for Colorado. The Mining Sector played a major role in Colorado’s higher rate of growth this past year.

Since 1997 Colorado Real GDP has grown at a faster rate than the U.S. (Sum of States), 2.8% vs. 2.1%.

There were 8 sectors that gained share in 2014, i.e., their percent of contribution to GDP was greater than their percent of the 2014 total GDP. Collectively, they accounted for 27.1% of the 2014 GDP and 46.5% of the change in the GDP.

The following table shows the sectors, their percentage of the 2014 GDP, and their contribution to the GDP.

Sector % of 2014 Total % of 2014 Contribution
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 1.3% 1.8%
Utilities 1.5% 3.0%
Management of companies and enterprises (MCE) 2.1% 2.9%
Transportation and warehousing 2.8% 2.9%
Accommodation and food services 3.2% 3.4%
Construction 4.4% 8.6%
Wholesale trade 5.5% 5.7%
Mining 6.2% 18.2%

Key points about the contribution of these sectors to GDP growth are listed below.
• The Mining Sector was the major driver in the growth of the state’s GDP, accounting for 18.2% of the change. Volatility in the price of a barrel of oil could potentially have a major impact on this sector’s level of contribution to the 2015 GDP.
• The contribution of the Construction Sector has been driven by a mix of sustained residential and nonresidential growth.
• The combination of the Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation and the Accommodation and Food Services sectors are commonly referred to as Tourism or Leisure and Hospitality. In 2014 the Tourism sector accounted for 4.5% of the GDP% and 5.2% of its growth. Tourism is an important part of the economy for each of the state’s 64 counties.
• The Utilities sector is small, but it experienced growth in 2014 because of strong overall employment and population growth. In addition, GDP growth increased because there was a significant gain in the number of business establishments in 2014.
• The increase in the MCE sector is a result of a 4.5% increase in the number of MCE establishments. In other words more businesses translated into greater GDP growth.
• Both the Wholesale Trade and the Transportation and Warehousing Sectors are small industries. In 2015 they experienced greater than usual gains in employment, which in turn meant stronger GDP growth.

With 4.7% Real GDP growth in 2014, the state economy had significant momentum moving into 2015. Through the first six months of the year, the state has capitalized on that momentum.

gdp gaining share - mining sector

2014 Colorado Real GDP Growth More than Twice the Rate for U.S.

horvath Leave a comment

In early June the Bureau of Economic Analysis released Gross Domestic Product at the state level for two-digit NAICS Codes.

Since 1997 Colorado Real GDP has grown at a faster rate than the Real GDP for the U.S. (Sum of States) in 11 of 17 years.

gdp index

Since 1997 Colorado Real GDP has grown at a faster rate than the U.S. (Sum of States), 2.8% vs. 2.1%. The 2014 U.S. rate of growth was 2.2% compared to 4.7% for Colorado.

gdp index

There were 8 sectors that gained share in 2014, i.e., their percent of contribution to GDP was greater than their percent of the 2014 total GDP. Collectively, they accounted for 27.1% of the 2014 GDP and 46.5% of the change in the GDP. These sectors were:
• Arts, entertainment, and recreation
• Utilities
• Management of companies and enterprises
• Transportation and warehousing
• Accommodation and food services
• Construction
• Wholesale trade
• Mining

There were 12 sectors that lost share in 2014, i.e. their percent of contribution for these sectors was less than their percent of the 2014 total. Collectively, they accounted for 72.9% of the 2014 GDP and 53.5% of the change in the GDP. These sectors were:
• Educational services
• Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting
• Other services, except government
• Administrative and waste management services
• Retail trade
• Finance and insurance
• Health care and social assistance
• Manufacturing
• Information
• Professional, scientific, and technical services
• Government
• Real estate and rental and leasing

The level of Real GDP Growth in 2014 provided significant momentum for the Colorado economy moving into 2015.