Gdp, Fourth Quarter | featured news

The bottom is falling out of economic forecasters' expectations for U.S. economic growth in the final months of 2012. And if some of the more bearish estimates prove accurate, it will be the weakest rate of growth since the start of 2011.

The economy grew more quickly than previously estimated in the fourth quarter as businesses maintained fairly solid spending and restocked shelves to meet rising demand.

China's gross domestic product in the fourth quarter grew 9.8% from a year earlier, faster than the third quarter's 9.6% rise, which may increase market expectations for further tightening on monetary policy.