KABUL, AFGHANISTAN—Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today released the following statement on the revised GDP report which showed the economy grew at 1.6% in the fourth quarter of 2005, an upward revision of 0.5%: "The U.S. economy continued to grow in the fourth quarter contributing to the trend of 17 consecutive quarters of GDP growth. Last year’s growth rate of 3.5 percent demonstrates that despite the challenges of hurricanes and high energy costs, a healthy economy can rise to these challenges. Recent economic indicators, from the employment situation through retail sales and construction activity, all point to robust economic growth in the first quarter of 2006.
"America’s economy can continue to grow and compete when Americans have more of their own money to spend, save and invest. This administration is determined to continue to provide American entrepreneurs and workers with the tools they need to fuel our economy and to prepare a new generation of American workers to fill the jobs of the 21st century."
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce
