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First-quarter U.S. GDP better but still weak
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The U.S. economy got off to a slow start in the first quarter of 2016, but not quite as slow as initially reportedGross domestic product rose at 0.8% rate from January to March, up from an initial 0.5% reading, the Commerce Department said Friday. Somewhat stronger home building and restocking of warehouse shelves were behind the upward revision.
The low rate of growth in the first three months of the year is unlikely to be repeated in the spring, however. A raft of evidence such as higher retail sales and rising home purchases suggests the U.S. is on track to expand at a 2%-plus clip in the second quarter.