US economic slowdown is confirmed, 26 May 2011 Last updated at 13:01 GMT

Corporate profits unexpectedly fell in the first three months of the year

US growth slowed in the first three months of 2011 to an annualised rate of 1.8%, which is a 0.4% quarterly rise, the Commerce Department has confirmed.

This compares with an annual growth rate of 3.1% in the previous quarter.
US GDP is expressed as an annualised rate, or annual pace, which shows what the three months' economic activity would mean if it carried on for a year.
The slowdown was blamed on corporate profits unexpectedly contracting in for the first time in more than two years.