The Bureau of Economic Analysis breaks it down as shown below:

Percentage-point effect on economic growth

Consumer spending +1.52

Business investment +0.83

Home construction +0.36

Company stockpiling -1.27

Government spending -1.33

Change in trade deficit -0.25

Effects of the reductions in government spending and company stockpiling total -2.60%, while consumer spending was up over 1.5%.  My concern is that this consumer spending was during the Christmas season, which would have risen no matter what.

The continued uncertainty of the costs of Obamacare, with reductions in hours and/or employees, and another fiscal decision coming to a head in March does nothing to help the overall outlook of businesses and consumers, which is an awful start for 2013.

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