Obama says US economic heartbeat 'growing stronger’

President Barack Obama declares the US economy is "in a much better place" than a year ago as new growth figures spur hopes of a solid recovery.

"The economy that was losing jobs a year ago is creating jobs today," Obama said. "We're moving forward. Our economy is stronger."

Earlier, the Commerce Department reported US gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a 3.2 percent pace in the first quarter, up from minus 6.4 percent at the same time last year.

The first estimate was just below market expectations for growth of 3.3 percent, but marked the third consecutive quarter of economic expansion as Americans began spending more.

That was seen as further evidence that the world's largest economy is slowly recovering from the worst economic crisis since the 1930s.

"Our economy is stronger. The economic heart beat is growing stronger," Obama said.

While positive, many fear the current rate of growth is not enough to recover the eight million US jobs lost since the crisis began.

The rate of growth was well down on the final quarter of 2009, when GDP was estimated at 5.6 percent, the strongest growth in six years.

"While today's GDP report is an important milepost on our road to recovery, it doesn't mean much to an American who has lost his or her job and can't find another," Obama acknowledged.

Analysts saw the figures as "further confirming the end of the recession and that the recovery is only moderate and disappointing," according to Peter Morici of the University of Maryland.

"Looking ahead, data are not encouraging. After such a long and damaging recession, we should expect several quarters of five percent growth."

Economic predictions

Some predict that economic growth might falter later this year, or will not be enough to cut into near double-digit unemployment.

"Unless the pace of growth picks up significantly we will see high unemployment rates for years to come," said Josh Bivens of the Economic Policy Institute.

"If we grew at the 3.2 percent rate that characterized the past three months for next three years, we would see unemployment rates higher than were reached at any time during the 2001 recession."

Republicans said the latest figures were evidence that government stimulus spending had failed.

"The signs of life in our economy are little comfort to the millions of families and small businesses asking 'where are the jobs?'" said House Republican Leader John Boehner.

But market-watchers took solace from news that household consumption -- traditionally a key driver of the US economy -- was up 3.6 percent.

"Consumers spent a lot more on everything," said Joel Naroff of Naroff Economic Advisors.

Consumer spending was at its highest level since the start of 2007, before the economic collapse.

Spending on long-lasting durable goods jumped 11.3 percent, well up on the previous quarter. Spending on services also increased to the quickest rate since the first quarter of 2007.

"The increase in real GDP in the first quarter primarily reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures," the Labor Department said.

Companies rebuild

Companies also continued to rebuild their inventories, pushing growth higher.

According to Dean Barker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research that is "the first increase in inventories since the first quarter of 2008."

But that was offset by increased imports and reduced government spending.

The biggest hit came from a fall in government spending, which was down 3.8 percent at state and local level, as authorities struggled to balance their books.