A number of economic indicators demonstrate the U.S. economy is continuing to grow at a moderate pace. On average, the United States has added 174,000 jobs per month in 2017; in 2016, the economy added an average 187,000 jobs per month. The strong employment situation is consistent with the moderately improving U.S. economy.

In third quarter 2017, GDP increased at an annual rate of 3.3 percent, according to the second estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. GDP increased at an annual rate of 3.1 percent in the second quarter. In addition, corporate profits from current production increased $91.6 billion in the third quarter, up from an increase of $14.4 billion in the second quarter.

U.S. employment expanded in November, as the economy added 228,000 new nonfarm payroll jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1 percent. The strong job gains in November followed a robust employment situation in October, ev