[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'E')conomy Sputters With 0.6 Percent Growth
Thursday March 27, 9:18 am ET
By Jeannine Aversa, AP Economics Writer
Economy Nearly Sputtered Out at End of 2007, Probably Faring Worse Now

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The economy nearly sputtered out at the end of the year and is probably faring even worse now amid continuing housing, credit and financial crises.

The Commerce Department reported Thursday that gross domestic product increased at a feeble 0.6 percent annual rate in the October-to-December quarter. The reading -- unchanged from a previous estimate a month ago -- provided stark evidence of just how much the economy has weakened. In the prior quarter, the economy clocked in at a sizzling 4.9 percent growth rate.
...

[auscanman]

And yet the stock markets appear to have pretty much just shrugged their shoulders in the face of this devastating news... I guess they're just anticipating the next fed rate cut

[gnm]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('auscanman', 'A')nd yet the stock markets appear to have pretty much just shrugged their shoulders in the face of this devastating news... I guess they're just anticipating the next fed rate cut

[emersonbiggins]

Apparently, many analysts were expecting negative, so ANY growth, even of the lethargic, sputtering kind, gives impetus to a rally.

Considering the 4+% drop from the quarter before, I wouldn't be surprised at all if we were 1-2% under right now.

[wxman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('auscanman', 'A')nd yet the stock markets appear to have pretty much just shrugged their shoulders in the face of this devastating news... I guess they're just anticipating the next fed rate cut

[heroineworshipper]

Only -13% when adjusted for inflation. Silicon Valley has still been bulletproof.

[KaiserCesar06]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('auscanman', 'A')nd yet the stock markets appear to have pretty much just shrugged their shoulders in the face of this devastating news... I guess they're just anticipating the next fed rate cut

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('KaiserCesar06', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('auscanman', 'A')nd yet the stock markets appear to have pretty much just shrugged their shoulders in the face of this devastating news... I guess they're just anticipating the next fed rate cut

[sjn]

I've read that early estimates are that Q1 has been 0%!

GDP growth is whatever they say it is. They just present the highest number they think they can get away with given inflation expectations!