In its third and final assessment of real GDP growth in the third quarter of 2005, the U.S. Commerce Department puts the figure at an annual rate of 4.1%. The department first estimated the inflation-adjusted growth rate in the third quarter at 3.8% and about a month ago raised it to 4.3%. The final GDP figure reflects less consumer spending for consumer durables than had been part of the department's second estimate.
The final figure for the third quarter was two-tenths of a percentage point below the 4.3% rate economists generally expected.
During the first quarter of this year, real GDP grew at a 3.8% annual rate and in the second quarter the economy grew at an annual rate of 3.3%.
The Commerce Department's first report on fourth-quarter 2005 GDP is slated to be released on January 27, 2006.
