The US economy grew more than expected in the third quarter with the second preliminary reading and more than expected by analysts. In July-September 2012, gross domestic product increased by 3,1% year on year. This is the best figure since the +4,1% recorded in the fourth quarter of 2011. This is what the US Department of Commerce reports. Analysts had expected a 2,7% increase, as in the previous revision of the data. The increase in state and local government spending, higher consumption and a smaller trade deficit had a positive impact on the indicator.
Meanwhile, The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the first time rose by 17 in the week ending last December 15, reaching 361 thousand. The data met the expectations of analysts.
Workers receiving unemployment benefits for more than a week increased by 12 to 3.225.000 in the period to December XNUMX, the latest for which data is available.
Overall, although the job market is slowly recovering from the recession, an estimated 12 million Americans want a job but can't find it.
