S&P Global Research Reveals Data Center Investments Moving The U.S. Macro Needle

Core Insights - Data center and related technology investments are a major driver of U.S. economic growth, accounting for 80% of the increase in final private domestic demand in the first half of 2025 [1][4][5] - The shift in technology company investments is moving towards a capital expenditure model similar to traditional manufacturing, indicating a significant change in investment strategies [2][5] Investment Trends - The U.S. leads in data center capacity, representing over 40% of the global total, with expectations for this share to increase [5] - Investments in data centers encompass various areas including construction, information processing equipment, software, and research and development [4][5] Economic Impact - Despite challenges such as higher borrowing costs and policy uncertainty, business investments related to AI are surging, counterbalancing weaknesses in other sectors of the economy [5] - Preliminary research indicates early productivity gains amid shifts in the labor market, suggesting a positive outlook for future economic performance [4] Future Outlook - The ongoing AI revolution and data center investments are anticipated to yield larger macroeconomic benefits in the future, although the distribution of these benefits may not be uniform across different sectors [5] - S&P Global's upcoming research journal will provide a comprehensive analysis of AI-driven data center growth, covering sector economics, energy resources, financing, and technological advancements [2]