U.S. GDP slows in first quarter

(April 27, 2012) -- The slowing in growth relative to the fourth quarter mainly reflected less of a build in inventories, which only added 0.6 percentage points to growth following a sizeable 1.8 percentage point addition in the fourth quarter of 2011. As well, business investment dropped 2.1 percent in the quarter following a 5.2 percent increase in the fourth quarter of 2011.