Economy: Biggest drop in 7 years

Economy: Biggest drop in 7 years

Gross domestic product falls 0.5% in the third quarter, showing greater economic weakness than original reading.


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The troubled U.S. economy posted its biggest drop in seven years, according to a government report Tuesday.

The gross domestic product, the broadest measure of the nation's economic activity, declined 0.5% in the three months ending Sept. 30, according to the Commerce Department.

This was in line with estimates from economists surveyed by Briefing.com.

The original reading showed a 0.3% decline.

The third quarter drop was the biggest for the economy since a 1.4% decline in the third quarter of 2001, the last full quarter that the U.S. economy was judged to be in a recession.

While there has yet to be an official determination that the economy is currently in a recession, most economists believe the U.S. is already in one and that the economy is likely to continue to shrink in the fourth quarter and the beginning of 2009.

CNN