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Are things really getting better?
Last quarter, the economy grew by the largest amount since the summer of 2007, but there are signs that things are still getting worse.
GDP: Strong return to growth
What it is: Gross domestic product is the broadest measure of the nation's economy. GDP measures what individuals, businesses and the government spend as well as the net impact of the nation's imports and exports.
Why it's important: Economists use GDP as one of several data points to determine whether the economy is in a period of recession or expansion. The 2008-2009 recession was one of the deepest ever -- it was the first time in history in which the economy retreated for four straight quarters.
Where we're headed: The economy returned to positive growth in the last three months after contracting by 3.7% since the recession began. But experts warn that government stimulus programs like Cash for Clunkers contributed strongly to the economic expansion and that the economic recovery is more fragile than the GDP numbers may suggest.
NEXT: Jobs: Still losing ground
Government says GDP grew 3.5% in third quarter, ending a year-long string of declines and coming in better than forecasts. More
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