Measuring economic growth is complicated by seasonality, the regular fluctuation in economic activity that depends on the season of the year. The BEA uses statistical techniques to remove seasonality from its estimates of GDP, but some research has indicated that seasonality remains. As a result, the BEA began a three-phase plan in 2015 to improve its seasonal-adjustment techniques, and in July 2018, it completed phase 3. Our analysis indicates that even after these latest improvements by the BEA, residual seasonality in GDP growth remains. On average, this residual seasonality makes GDP growth appear to be slower in the first quarter of the year and more rapid in the second quarter of the year. Rapid second-quarter growth is particularly noticeable in recent years. As a result, business economists and policymakers may want to take seasonality into account when using GDP to assess the health of the economy.

Graph and download economic data for Gross Domestic Product: All Industry Total in the Far West BEA Region (FWSTNGSP) from 1997 to 2024 about Far West BEA Region, GSP, industry, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Gross Domestic Product: Construction (23) in the Southeast BEA Region (SESTCONSTNGSP) from 1997 to 2024 about Southeast BEA Region, GSP, private industries, construction, private, industry, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Civilian Labor Force in Southeast BEA Region (DISCONTINUED) (BEASELF) from Jan 1990 to Dec 2015 about Southeast BEA Region, civilian, labor force, labor, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in Plains BEA Region (DISCONTINUED) (BEAPLUR) from Jan 1990 to Dec 2015 about Plains BEA Region, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industry Total in the Far West BEA Region (FWSTRQGSP) from Q1 2005 to Q2 2025 about Far West BEA Region, GSP, real, industry, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Gross Domestic Product: Other Services (Except Government and Government Enterprises) (81) in the Far West BEA Region (FWSTOTHSERVENGSP) from 1997 to 2024 about Far West BEA Region, GSP, private industries, services, private, industry, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Real Gross Domestic Product: Retail Trade (44-45) in the New England BEA Region (NENGRETAILRQGSP) from Q1 2005 to Q2 2025 about New England BEA Region, GSP, private industries, retail trade, sales, retail, private, real, industry, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Real Gross Domestic Product: Accommodation and Food Services (72) in the Plains BEA Region (PLNSACCOMDRQGSP) from Q1 2005 to Q2 2025 about Plains BEA Region, arts, entertainment, accommodation, recreation, GSP, private industries, food, services, private, real, industry, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Gross Domestic Product: Nondurable Goods Manufacturing (311-316, 322-326) in the New England BEA Region (NENGNDURMANNGSP) from 1997 to 2024 about New England BEA Region, nondurable goods, GSP, private industries, goods, private, manufacturing, industry, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industry Total in the Southeast BEA Region (SESTRGSP) from 1997 to 2024 about Southeast BEA Region, GSP, real, industry, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in Southeast BEA Region (DISCONTINUED) (BEASEURN) from Jan 1990 to Dec 2015 about Southeast BEA Region, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Civilian Labor Force in Great Lakes BEA Region (DISCONTINUED) (BEAGLLF) from Jan 1990 to Dec 2015 about Great Lakes BEA Region, civilian, labor force, labor, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in Southwest BEA Region (DISCONTINUED) (BEASWUR) from Jan 1990 to Dec 2015 about Southwest BEA Region, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Gross Domestic Product: All Industry Total in the Southeast BEA Region (SESTNQGSP) from Q1 2005 to Q2 2025 about Southeast BEA Region, GSP, industry, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in New England BEA Region (DISCONTINUED) (BEANEUR) from Jan 1990 to Dec 2015 about New England BEA Region, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in Great Lakes BEA Region (DISCONTINUED) (BEAGLURN) from Jan 1990 to Dec 2015 about Great Lakes BEA Region, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Chain-Type Quantity Index for Real GDP: All Industry Total in the Rocky Mountain BEA Region (RKMTQQGSP) from Q1 2005 to Q2 2025 about Rocky Mountain BEA Region, quantity index, GSP, industry, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Gross Domestic Product: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11) in the Far West BEA Region (FWSTAGRNQGSP) from Q1 2005 to Q4 2023 about Far West BEA Region, hunting, forestry, fishing, agriculture, GSP, private industries, private, industry, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Chain-Type Quantity Index for Real GDP: Other Services (Except Government and Government Enterprises) (81) in the Great Lakes BEA Region (GLAKOTHSERVEQGSP) from 1997 to 2024 about Great Lakes BEA Region, quantity index, GSP, private industries, services, private, industry, GDP, and USA.