Washington, D.C. – Real gross domestic product decreased at an annual rate of 3.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008. This is based on estimates released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

This advance estimate is based upon incomplete data, the BEA reports, and will be revised.

The decrease in real GDP reflected negative contributions from exports, personal consumption, equipment and software, and residential investment. These negatives were offset, in part, by government spending and decreased imports,

Motor vehicle output cut more than 2 percent from GDP.