U.S. Economy Grew at 3.2% Rate in the 4th Quarter

By CATHERINE RAMPELL
Published: January 28, 2011
The New York Times

The gross domestic product, a broad measure of the goods and services produced in the country, grew at an annual rate of 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter, up from 2.6 percent in the previous period, according to a Commerce Department report released Friday.

Because of this slightly speedier expansion, the nation’s overall economic output has finally matched its peak before the recession. Still, given the millions of jobless American workers, the economy has fallen far short of what it could be if it were healthy, economists said.

“Things are better, but they’re not anywhere near where they need to be to make major inroads into unemployment,â€