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US economy is growing once again | US economy is growing once again |
(30 minutes later) | |
The US economy grew at an annual pace of 3.5% between July and September, its first expansion in more than a year. | |
The growth was helped by a substantial government spending plan, including a scrappage scheme to boost car sales. | |
The official figures indicate recession has ended, but some economists think there could be further setbacks. | |
The White House said it was "a welcome milestone", but stressed it would be some time before the economy made a full recovery. | |
Compared with the previous three months, the US economy grew by 0.9%. In the same period, and on the same measure, the UK economy unexpectedly stayed in recession after it shrank by 0.4%. | |
Global good news | Global good news |
BBC chief economics correspondent Hugh Pym said the 3.5% annualised growth rate was more than the 3.3% expected by most commentators. | BBC chief economics correspondent Hugh Pym said the 3.5% annualised growth rate was more than the 3.3% expected by most commentators. |
I've been out of work a few months here or there but never like this Unemployed American Jon Polis Pain continues for some Mardell: Where hope is all that's left | |
"The sheer scale of the stimulus in the US has made a big difference, it was much bigger in percentage terms than that in the UK," he said. | "The sheer scale of the stimulus in the US has made a big difference, it was much bigger in percentage terms than that in the UK," he said. |
"That the US, the powerhouse of the world economy is growing once again, is good news for the global economy has a whole." | "That the US, the powerhouse of the world economy is growing once again, is good news for the global economy has a whole." |
It is the first time US economy has last expanded since the second quarter of 2008, when it grew at an annual pace of 2.4%. | |
Official confirmation of whether the US is in or out recession will come from the National Bureau of Economic Research, the agency which considers a number of factors in coming to its decision. | |
Numerous boosts | Numerous boosts |
The figures from the Commerce Department showed that a number of factors helped to lift the economy during the third quarter. | The figures from the Commerce Department showed that a number of factors helped to lift the economy during the third quarter. |
This recovery is being led by federal spending and gradual recovery in consumer spending and business investment John Silvia, Wells Fargo Head to head: What next for US economy? | This recovery is being led by federal spending and gradual recovery in consumer spending and business investment John Silvia, Wells Fargo Head to head: What next for US economy? |
Spending on durable manufactured products soared at an annualised rate of 22.3%, the highest quarterly amount since 2001, led primarily by the impact of the cash for clunkers scheme lifting car sales. | Spending on durable manufactured products soared at an annualised rate of 22.3%, the highest quarterly amount since 2001, led primarily by the impact of the cash for clunkers scheme lifting car sales. |
The housing market also improved, with spending on housing products up 23.4%, its largest quarterly jump in 23 years. | The housing market also improved, with spending on housing products up 23.4%, its largest quarterly jump in 23 years. |
Analysts said this big leap was sparked by the government's $8,000 tax credit for first-time house buyers. | Analysts said this big leap was sparked by the government's $8,000 tax credit for first-time house buyers. |
Meanwhile, total government spending was up 7.9%, as the wider stimulus spending continued to take effect. | Meanwhile, total government spending was up 7.9%, as the wider stimulus spending continued to take effect. |
In addition, exports were also up strongly, increasing 21.4%, the biggest rise since 1996. | In addition, exports were also up strongly, increasing 21.4%, the biggest rise since 1996. |
'Distorted by stimulus' | 'Distorted by stimulus' |
WHAT IS GDP? Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, measures the value of goods and services produced in a country, reflecting the health of the economy in one number.The US uses a measure called annualised GDP, which takes the change over a three-month period and works out what the annual change would be if it continued at that pace over a whole year.This latest figure is the first estimate for the three-month period between July and September. It will be revised twice in coming months. | WHAT IS GDP? Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, measures the value of goods and services produced in a country, reflecting the health of the economy in one number.The US uses a measure called annualised GDP, which takes the change over a three-month period and works out what the annual change would be if it continued at that pace over a whole year.This latest figure is the first estimate for the three-month period between July and September. It will be revised twice in coming months. |
"It's good to have the economy growing again," said Brian Bethune, economist at IHS Global Insight. | "It's good to have the economy growing again," said Brian Bethune, economist at IHS Global Insight. |
"But we don't think that rate of growth is sustainable because it is distorted by all the government stimulus. | "But we don't think that rate of growth is sustainable because it is distorted by all the government stimulus. |
"The challenge here is to get organic growth - growth that isn't helped by fiscal steroids." | "The challenge here is to get organic growth - growth that isn't helped by fiscal steroids." |
Analysts cautious about the slow nature of the US economic recovery point to the fact that the unemployment rate currently stands at 9.8%, and that the labour market traditionally lags behind any wider economic recovery. | Analysts cautious about the slow nature of the US economic recovery point to the fact that the unemployment rate currently stands at 9.8%, and that the labour market traditionally lags behind any wider economic recovery. |
They also highlight the fact that the big car firms have already reported a sharp fall in September sales following the conclusion of the popular $3bn cash for clunkers scheme at the end of August. | They also highlight the fact that the big car firms have already reported a sharp fall in September sales following the conclusion of the popular $3bn cash for clunkers scheme at the end of August. |
"You can say that the recession is over, but it sure won't feel like that," said Dean Baker, co-director of the Centre for Economic Policy Research. | "You can say that the recession is over, but it sure won't feel like that," said Dean Baker, co-director of the Centre for Economic Policy Research. |
"There is a lot of downward momentum that isn't going to go." | "There is a lot of downward momentum that isn't going to go." |