The U.S. economy grew 3.9 percent at the annual rate in the third quarter, according to revised real GDP data released in late November, 2014. This was better than the 3.5 percent original estimate, and more importantly, it suggests real GDP increased at an annualized 4.2 percent over the past two quarters.
Positive elements in the economy included healthy increases in consumer and business spending, goods exports and end-of-fiscal-year government spending. The revision also included better inventory replenishment numbers than originally estimated.