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          US Economy Advanced at Steady Pace in 2013's Fourth Quarter

   The U.S. economy advanced at a steady pace in the last months of 2013,
   growth that was fueled by robust consumer spending.
   The government`s Commerce Department said Thursday the world`s largest
   economy grew 3.2 percent in the October-to-December period, following a
   4.1 percent advance in the third quarter.
   With the favorable six-month growth, economists in the U.S. say the
   country`s economy could grow by more than 3 percent in 2014, a figure
   not reached since 2005.
   For all of 2013, however, the American economy grew a tepid 1.9
   percent, weaker than the 2.8 percent increase in 2012. Higher taxes and
   government spending cuts held down growth early last year, while a
   16-day partial government shutdown in October trimmed the fourth
   quarter advance.
   The government said consumers spent 3.3 percent more in 2013`s fourth
   quarter, the strongest growth in three years. Personal spending is an
   important barometer in the U.S., accounting for about 70 percent of the
   country`s economy.
   White House economic adviser Jason Furman called the fourth quarter
   growth "a testament to the resilience of American businesses and
   families," as the U.S. continues to recover from the depths of its 2008
   recession.
   He said, however, that the country`s 6.7 percent jobless rate "is still
   unacceptably high." Furman said "too many Americans are still looking
   for a job and fighting to make ends meet."
   In the U.S., more than 10 million workers are unemployed.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-economy-advanced-at-steady-pace-in-2013s-fourth-quarter/1840939.html