Data Centers Drove Nearly All U.S. GDP Growth in First Half of 2025, Harvard Economist Finds
By
ryan_j_naughton
Crisp on the outside, thoughtful on the inside. A keeper.
Summary
Harvard economist Jason Furman's analysis reveals that U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 was almost entirely driven by data center and information technology investments. Without these technology-related categories, GDP growth would have been just 0.1% on an annualized basis, indicating that data centers and tech infrastructure are becoming crucial drivers of macroeconomic performance.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledU.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 was almost entirely driven by investment in data centers and information processing technology
Excluding these technology-related categories, GDP growth would have been just 0.1% on an annualized basis
The findings underline the increasingly pivotal role of high-tech infrastructure in shaping macroeconomic outcomes
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