The US economy is growing, but not as much as expected new figures have shown.
Data released on Tuesday showed the US GDP grew 2.2 per cent from July through September, more than half a percentage point down from earlier forecasts.
The revised growth figure follows four successive quarters of decline in the world's largest economy, but prospects for a sustainable recovery remain uncertain.
The expansion was largely driven by massive government spending, including the so-called "cash-for-clunkers" programme to encourage spending on new cars.
Meanwhile, business investment remains well down, as are bank lending figures, and despite the Christmas holiday season, consumer spending has been tepid at best.
At the same time, unemployment stands at around 10 per cent, with warnings that that figure could rise yet further before it starts to improve.
Fear
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