US economy grew at strong 4 percent rate in second quarter after sharp contraction in winter
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After a dismal winter, the U.S. economy sprang back to life in the April-June quarter, growing at a fast 4 percent annual rate on the strength of higher consumer and business spending.
The Commerce Department says the second-quarter rebound followed a sharp 2.1 percent annualized drop in economic activity in the January-March quarter. That figure was revised up from a previous estimate of a 2.9 percent decline. But it was still the biggest contraction since early 2009 during the depths of the Great Recession.
Last quarter's rebound was broad-based, with consumers, businesses, the housing industry and state and local governments all combining to boost growth.
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Economists expect that momentum to continue in the second half of this year, when they forecast growth of around 3 percent.