Strong U.S. Growth rate at 2.5%

The U.S. economy grew at +2.5% in the January-March quarter, up from the anemic growth rate of +.4% in the October-December 2012 quarter. Consumer spending increased +3.2%, the best showing since the end of 2010. Most economists are projecting the growth rate will slow in the April-June quarter to +2.0%. Had government spending not be down by -4.1%, the economy may have reached the growth rate of +3% where many economists think the second half of 2012 will achieve.