Economists Reduce U.S. Growth Estimates as Lack of Jobs Hinders Consumers

[marmar]

Aug. 11 (Bloomberg) -- A lack of jobs will shackle consumer spending and restrain the U.S. recovery more than previously estimated, according to economists polled by Bloomberg News.

Gross domestic product will expand at an average 2.55 percent annual rate in the last six months of 2010, according to the median of 67 estimates in a survey taken July 31 to Aug. 9, down from the 2.8 percent pace projected last month. Household purchases will climb at a 2.25 percent rate, compared with a 2.6 percent gain previously forecast.

“Simply put, job growth in the private sector hasn’t improved as we would’ve expected,” said John Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo Securities LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina. “The consumer continues to contribute to growth but at a subpar pace.”

Federal Reserve policy makers yesterday also lowered their sights on the projected speed of the economic rebound, prompting officials to take additional steps to bolster the economy for the first time in a year. Slack growth will push back the first increase in the central bank’s target interest rate until the second half of 2011, according to the Bloomberg survey.

Consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the economy will grow 1.5 percent this year, down from a 2.4 percent gain forecast a month ago, according to the survey median estimate. In addition to the lowered expectations for the second half of 2010, the downgrade also reflects the annual GDP revisions issued by the Commerce Department last month. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ae3.f0kAo0io&pos=3