Daily Roundup of Key US Economic Data for Feb. 20

02:24 PM EST, 02/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The advance estimate of Q4 GDP showed a 1.4% gain, slower than a 4.4% gain in Q3, with a slowdown in personal consumption growth to 2.4% from 3.5%.

Government spending was subtraction from Q4 GDP, likely due to the government shutdown in the quarter. In addition, net exports made a much smaller positive contribution to Q4 GDP than in the previous quarter.

In contrast, there was a larger positive contribution from nonresidential fixed investment, smaller negative contribution from residential fixed investment, and positive contribution from private inventories after a negative contribution in the previous quarter.

The GDP price index rose by 3.6% after a 3.8% gain in Q3, a larger increase than expected that contributed to the slowdown in headline GDP. The PCE price index and core PCE price index remained elevated.

Personal income was up 0.3% in December after a 0.4% gain, with slower growth in wages and salaries the key factor.

Personal consumption expenditures rose by 0.4% for a second straight month in December and rose by 0.1% after adjustment for inflation following a 0.2% gain.

The PCE price index rose by 0.4% in December after a 0.2% gain in the previous month, lifting the year-over-year rate to 2.9% from 2.8%. Core PCE prices also rose by 0.4% in the month after a 0.2% gain and were up 3% year-over-year after a 2.8% gain.

The flash manufacturing reading from S&P Global fell to 51.2 in February from 52.4 in January, in line with regional data from the New York and Philadelphia Federal Reserve banks that showed modest expansion.

The ISM's national manufacturing reading will be released on March 2.

Released at the same time, the flash services reading from S&P Global declined to 52.3 in February from 52.7 in January, suggesting slower expansion. The ISM's services reading is scheduled for release on March 4.

The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for February was revised lower to 56.6 from the preliminary estimate of 57.3 but was above January's reading of 56.4.

Michigan said that inflation expectations slowed in the one-year period and held steady in the five-year period.

The initial Q1 GDPnow estimate from the St. Louis Fed is for a 3.0% gain and the initial Q1 GDPnow estimate from the Atlanta Fed is for a 3.1% gain. The next update is expected on Feb. 24.

MT Newswires does not provide investment advice. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.