The economy is still growing, but not by much, The downward revisions of previous quarters is interesting, especially for the fourth quarter of 2007.

The economy grew less than expected from April to June, the government said on Thursday, and it shrank in the final months of 2007, dimming the outlook for a quick recovery.

Gross domestic product expanded at an annual rate of 1.9 percent in the second quarter, the Commerce Department reported, primarily because of a surge in export sales powered by the weak dollar. The government's tax stimulus package pushed consumer spending higher, but the ongoing pain in the housing market took a sharp toll on overall growth.

But that figure was below the estimate of many economists, who had expected growth of 2.3 percent, and it cast doubt on whether the stimulus package would be able to prop up the economy in the months ahead.