The economy grew at an annual rate of 3.8% in the fourth quarter, the government said Friday, revising 2004's last quarter of growth significantly higher. The Department of Commerce said it had revised the growth up by more than expected from an initial estimate of 3.1% in the fourth quarter. The stronger reading slightly surprised Wall Street which had only expected growth to be revised up to 3.7%. The government left its growth estimate for 2004 pegged at 4.4%.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005
