Inexplicable upturn in U.S. GDP (chart)

[eppur_se_muova]

As this chart from the BBC ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8331497.stm ) shows, the US economy was in steep decline for most of 2008, into Q1 2009, but in 2009, the decline suddenly reversed!

What could possibly account for this? :shrug: Did something momentous happen in early 2009?

On a related point, what brought on the collapse? Who could have been responsible for that? Any ideas?

If no anwers here, perhaps I can inquire over at Free Republic ...

[thereismore]

1. It's the long-awaited Bush recovery, silly. nt

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Economic Stimulus. Otherwise it would have been like Q1 all the way.

[AllentownJake]

3. When the government spends money

It is counted in GDP. Backout government spending and cash for clunkers the chart makes sense.

[FarCenter]

4. Even more curious is 2007

When GDP goes from essentially 0% to 4.5% for two quarters and then back to 0%.

These percentage growth numbers are the result of subtracting two large numbers which are known with limited accuracy. There is a lot of error in the difference.

[AllentownJake]

5. Whatever the number is today

It is going to be revised.