Economy Not Likely To Reprise '09 Year-End Growth

From NPR News:

The economy grew at a 5.6 percent pace in the fourth quarter of last year, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Although the growth was slightly lower than expected, it was the economy's best showing in six years.

Most economists had expected no revision in the government's third and final estimate. Last month, the department put the growth rate for output of goods and services at 5.9 percent for the October-to-December period. That's up from third-quarter gross domestic product of 2.2 percent.

The latest announcement puts the GDP closer to the 5.7 percent in the initial advance estimate at the beginning of February.

The department's Bureau of Economic Analysis chalked up the downward revision to slower consumer spending and weakness in the commercial real-estate market.

Economists had reason to question whether the economy could sustain such a steep upward trend. Much of the growth comes from businesses restocking empty shelves after months of tepid consumer demand, which is expected to improve slightly — but not significantly — in the current quarter.