U.S. Q4 before-tax corporate profits fall 2.6%
U.S. Q4 before-tax corporate profits fall 2.6% (by Greg Robb)
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. corporations' before-tax profits from current production fell 2.6% to $1.80 trillion annualized in the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department estimated Friday. For the year however, corporate profits were up 36.8%., the biggest gain since 1950. The decline in the fourth quarter brought the year-over-year growth down to 16.1%. from a 34.8% year-over-year increase in the third quarter. The government data are adjusted for inventory valuations and capital consumption.