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U.S. Economic Growth

31 August, 2007 Published 11:02 GMT

The United States economy grew at a strong annual rate of four per cent in the
second quarter of this year, according to new figures from the Commerce
Department. However, the data covers a period before the recent financial market
difficulties. This report from Andrew Walker:
The new figures cover the three months up to the end of June. They represent a
significant increase compared with the government's first estimate a few weeks
ago. And they are a very pronounced improvement compared with the decidedly
weak performance in the first three months of the year. Strong investment by
American business was one of the main factors behind the faster growth.
There is some comfort for financial markets in these figures, but, it must be said,
not very much. The recent volatility in credit markets and share prices is not
reflected at all. It came a few weeks after the end of the period these figures cover.
How will those events affect the wider economy remains the big question about
them.
Traders in the markets are also trying to guess whether the Federal Reserve - the US
central bank - will cut interest rates again to limit any economic
consequences. Many are hoping the Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will give some
clues when he speaks on Friday at a gathering of central bankers from around the
world.
Andrew Walker, BBC

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Traduzca al espaol los siguientes trminos o frases utilizando el diccionario

www. wordreference.com y las definiciones proporcionadas en ingls

second quarter the second of three-month intervals on a financial calendar that

together comprise the financial year.
figures

numbers

represent a significant increase

show a big growth
estimate
a guess of what the value, amount, cost, etc. of something might be
pronounced improvement
clearly becoming better

decidedly weak performance

clearly doing badly
There is some comfort
here, financial markets are a little more secure than before
volatility
changing suddenly and unexpectedly
affect the wider economy
have an impact/influence on all sectors of the US economy

will cut interest rates to reduce or decrease a rate which is charged or paid for the use of
money
to limit
to control something so that it is not greater than a particular amount or level
economic consequences
here, the impact that the recent situation on the markets could have on the economy
clues
information or signs that help you to find the answer to a question

gathering a meeting, an assembly or reunion