Bloomberg U.S. Economy: Consumers, Government Propel Growth

Oct. 29 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. economy returned to growth in the third quarter after a yearlong contraction as government incentives spurred consumers to spend more on homes and cars.

The world’s largest economy expanded at a 3.5 percent pace from July through September, figures from the Commerce Department showed today in Washington. Household purchases climbed 3.4 percent, the most in two years.

Policy makers will now focus on whether the recovery, supported by government spending and tax credits, can be sustained into 2010 and generate jobs. The record $1.4 trillion budget deficit means President Barack Obama has little room for maneuver as he tries to keep unemployment from rising above 10 percent, while Federal Reserve policy makers wind down emergency programs in a bid to prevent a surge in inflation.

“Consumers will feel that the news is getting better, but not good,” Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisors Inc. in Holland, Pennsylvania, and the top economic forecaster last year according to a survey by Bloomberg Markets magazine, said in an interview. Americans “are not going to see businesses out there hiring a whole lot of people and the unemployment rate is likely to continue to rise.”

Stocks jumped and Treasuries declined after the report. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was up 2.3 percent, the most since July 23, to 1,066.11 at 4:05 p.m. in New York. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose eight basis points to 3.49 percent. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point. more...