NEW YORK, March 26 (Reuters) – The U.S. economy grew at a
slightly less brisk pace than previously estimated in the
fourth quarter, while corporate profits slowed sharply from the
previous quarter, government data showed on Friday.
KEY POINTS:
* Gross domestic product expanded at a 5.6 percent annual
rate, the Commerce Department said in its final report for the
fourth quarter, instead of the 5.9 percent pace it estimated in
February. It was still the fastest pace since the third quarter
of 2003.
* Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast GDP, which measures
total goods and services output within U.S. borders, growing at
a 5.9 percent rate in the October-December period. GDP
increased at a 2.2 percent pace in the third quarter.