The US economy grew by an annualised rate of 5.7% between October and December, official figures have shown.
The number, which is a first estimate, is a big rise from the previous quarter’s growth rate of 2.2%.
It suggests the country’s economy is growing at its fastest pace for six years and confirms the US economy has left its year-long recession behind.
But even with the rebound, gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 2.4% across 2009 as a whole.
That was the worst annual performance since 1946.
White House economist Christina Romer said the strong growth in the fourth quarter of 2009 was “the most positive news to date on the economy”.
