Business briefs for March 25, 2004

Single Sign-On: You can use Facebook account to log in to LasVegasSun.com. (We will use your first and last name from your profile.)
Trusted Commenting: Facebook connected users automatically become trusted commenters.

Thursday, March 25, 2004 | 11:08 a.m.

Solid growth rate confirmed

WASHINGTON -- America's economic recovery ended 2003 on a good note, growing at a solid 4.1 percent annual rate, and is expected to do even better in the year's opening quarter.

The latest reading on gross domestic product for the October-to-December quarter was the same as an estimate made a month ago, the Commerce Department reported today. That was consistent with economists' forecasts.

GDP measures that value of all goods and services produced within the United States and is considered the most important barometer of the economy's health.

Economic growth in the current January-to-March quarter is expected to clock in at a rate of 4.5 percent, according to some analysts' forecasts. Growth in the April-to-June quarter also should be around that pace, they said.

Tax refunds and other tax incentives should motivate consumers and businesses to spend and invest more -- energizing the economy in the first half of this year, economists said.