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US economic growth revised down US economic growth revised down
(about 1 hour later)
US economic growth has been revised down, but remains comparatively strong at an annualised rate of 5.6% for the fourth quarter of 2009.US economic growth has been revised down, but remains comparatively strong at an annualised rate of 5.6% for the fourth quarter of 2009.
This is the rate of economic growth for the three months that assumes the same level for a full 12 months.This is the rate of economic growth for the three months that assumes the same level for a full 12 months.
It was revised down by 0.3%, according to the US Commerce Department in its third revision of the figure. It was revised down from 5.9%, in the US Commerce Department's third estimate of fourth-quarter GDP.
The main factors behind the revision were weaker personal and government consumption, and lower investment.The main factors behind the revision were weaker personal and government consumption, and lower investment.
The figure is significantly up on the 2.2% annualised rate of growth seen in the third quarter and is the strongest reported since the third quarter of 2003.The figure is significantly up on the 2.2% annualised rate of growth seen in the third quarter and is the strongest reported since the third quarter of 2003.
The Commerce Department said that the acceleration in inflation-adjusted growth or "real GDP" was chiefly due to a slowdown in the rate at which business drew down on its inventories. But there were other factors.The Commerce Department said that the acceleration in inflation-adjusted growth or "real GDP" was chiefly due to a slowdown in the rate at which business drew down on its inventories. But there were other factors.
"The pickup in real GDP also reflects rebounds in business investment in equipment and software and in net exports," the Commerce Department said."The pickup in real GDP also reflects rebounds in business investment in equipment and software and in net exports," the Commerce Department said.
The US achieved the fastest fourth-quarter economic growth of all G7 nations.