Economists expect fourth-quarter GDP to grow at a 3 percent pace, which would make it the third quarter of 3 percent growth in a row for the first time since 2005.
"Three in a row 3.0 — that's a number that will get people's attention," said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union Bank. "It's going to be close. It's going to be a nail-biter."
There was a period of more than 3 percent growth when averaged across three quarters in 2014 and 2015, but no period has seen growth as consistently and sequentially at 3 percent since George W. Bush was in the White House.
The fourth-quarter report is expected at 8:30 a.m. ET Friday, as is the report on durable goods for December. At 8 a.m. ET Friday, President Donald Trump speaks in Davos, Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum and is sure to tout the resurgence in the U.S. economy in 2017, even before GOP tax law changes took effect.
"Durable goods are coming in strong. It means business equipment expenditures should be adding more than expected to growth," said Rupkey. "Consumer spending — it's been stronger and stronger. We had a shaky period with retail sales but now the consumer looks on a firmer footing."
Rupkey said the increase in asset prices, in the stock market and the wealth effect are helping boost consumer sentiment. "There's kind of a rosy glow, a halo of how well the consumer is doing here. Fed by stock market gains, that knows no bounds. I think everyone feels good about the outlook," he said.
Economists have warned that the first quarter may not be as strong as the fourth, if it does come in at the 3 percent expected by Thomson Reuters and the CNBC/Moody's Analytics Rapid GDP update.
The first quarter has been soft in recent years, and this year January's cold weather may have slowed consumption. "I have 2.5 percent, just a little weaker," said Rupkey.
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