The Government lowered their original first quarter estimates regarding the Gross Domestic Product, due to a an underestimate of consumer spending. Even though the estimate is lower, it does mark the third consecutive quarter of growth. Check out the following story about the adjustment courtesy of USA Today:
Gross domestic product rose at a 2.7% annual rate in the January-to-March period, the Commerce Department said Friday. That was less than the 3% estimate for the quarter that the government released last month. It was also much slower than the 5.6% pace in the previous quarter.
GDP measures the value of all goods and services produced in the United States and is considered the best measure of the country's economic health.
The economy has now grown for three consecutive quarters after shrinking for four straight during the recession — the longest contraction since World War II.
In normal times, 2.7% growth would be considered healthy. But it's relatively weak for a recovery after a steep recession. After the last sharp downturn in the early 1980s, GDP grew at annual rates of 7% to 9% for five straight quarters.