The Bureau of Economic Analysisreported that real gross domestic product, the output of goods and services produced in the United States, increased at an annual rate of 2.8% in the fourth quarter of 2011.


According to the American Trucking Associations' Weekly Economic Report, although this increase was lower than expected, it was the fastest pace of growth since 2010's second quarter. Inventory restocking boosted the percentage a good deal by adding 1.9% to the reading.

Real exports of goods and services increased 4.7% in the fourth quarter, the same increase as in the third. Real imports of goods and services increased 4.4% in the fourth quarter, compared with an increase of 1.2% in the third.

In addition, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that December's new orders for manufactured durable goods, products with a shelf life of three years, increased $6.2 billion or 3.0% to $214.5 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, up two of the last three months, increased $4.3 billion or 2.1% to $207.3 billion.