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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US economic growth revised upwards | US economic growth revised upwards |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Economic growth in the US has been revised upwards for the third quarter, to its fastest pace since late 2011. | Economic growth in the US has been revised upwards for the third quarter, to its fastest pace since late 2011. |
| The Commerce Department said gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annualised rate of 4.1% between July and September - up from a previous estimate of 3.6%. | The Commerce Department said gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annualised rate of 4.1% between July and September - up from a previous estimate of 3.6%. |
| Stronger consumer spending accounted for much of the upward revision. It accounts for two-thirds of the economy. | Stronger consumer spending accounted for much of the upward revision. It accounts for two-thirds of the economy. |
| Business spending was also stronger than previous estimates. | Business spending was also stronger than previous estimates. |
| On Wednesday the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, announced it would start to slow its economic stimulus programme because of the improving economy - in particular the falling unemployment rate. | On Wednesday the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, announced it would start to slow its economic stimulus programme because of the improving economy - in particular the falling unemployment rate. |
| The central bank said it planned to scale back - or "taper" as it is known in the financial world - its $85bn (£51.8bn) a month bond buying programme by $10bn a month. | |
| Analysts were encouraged by the GDP revision. | Analysts were encouraged by the GDP revision. |
| "Not only was third-quarter GDP above 4.0% for only the third time since the expansion began in 2009, the mix of growth looks better (though still not great) than a month ago after the first revision," said Chris Low and Jay Morelock of FTN Financial in a research note. | "Not only was third-quarter GDP above 4.0% for only the third time since the expansion began in 2009, the mix of growth looks better (though still not great) than a month ago after the first revision," said Chris Low and Jay Morelock of FTN Financial in a research note. |
| Previously, most of the third-quarter economic growth had come from a build up in business inventories. | |
| This had concerned many analysts, because a build up in inventories doesn't necessarily indicate present demand but a hope for future buying. | |
| US markets cheered the news, continuing their upward streak for the week in the wake of the Fed's decision, which has been widely accepted not just by US but by global markets as well. | |
| "The strong Q3 growth performance vindicates the Fed's decision to begin tapering QE3," said Sal Guatieri of BMO Capital Markets Economics. | |
| "It also suggests the economy is poised for stronger growth in the new year than the middling 2% pace of the past year, meaning the tapering process will continue," he added. |