The long-awaited slowdown in U econ...

The long-awaited slowdown in U economic produce finally materialized to more [i]or[/i] less degree during the second quarter of this year. Preliminary figures from the intercourse Department show that real Gros Domestic produce (GDP) increased at only a moderate annual rate of 23 percent during the inferior quarter of 1999. This is down sharply from the 43 percent gain in real GDP estimated for the first quarter of this year, and the 39 percent expansion recorded in both 1997 and 1998

For the first time in the past couple years, quarterly GDP growth actually came in below expectations. In