Without data centers, GDP growth was 0.1% in the first half of 2025, Harvard economist says

Group 1 - U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 was primarily driven by investment in data centers and information processing technology, with a mere 0.1% growth when excluding these sectors [1][2] - The dollar value contributed to GDP growth by AI data-center buildout surpassed U.S. consumer spending for the first time, highlighting the significance of technology investment [2] - Investment in information-processing equipment and software constituted only 4% of U.S. GDP but accounted for 92% of GDP growth in the first half of 2025, indicating a disproportionate impact on economic expansion [3] Group 2 - Major tech companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, and Nvidia have invested tens of billions into data centers to meet the rising demand for AI and large language models [4] - Hyperscaler capital expenditures on data centers have increased fourfold, approaching $400 billion annually, with the top 10 spenders responsible for nearly a third of this spending [5] - Data center-linked spending is estimated to be adding approximately 100 basis points to U.S. real GDP growth, underscoring its economic significance [5] Group 3 - The surge in technology-led growth occurs amidst broader economic sluggishness, with job creation slowing and concerns that the economy could have faced recession without technology investment [5]