Economy Remains Anemic

As bad as expected. Well, at least expectations have changed.

U.S. economic growth edged up as expected in the third quarter but not enough to chip away at high unemployment or change perceptions of more monetary easing from the Federal Reserve next week.

Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.0 percent annual rate as consumer spending rose at its quickest pace since 2006 and businesses continued to rebuild inventories, the Commerce Department said on Friday. The economy expanded at a 1.7 percent rate in the second quarter and third-quarter growth matched economists' expectations.