It looks like the U.S. economy perked up slightly this summer, as businesses re-stocked their shelves, consumer spending rose slightly, and the housing recovery chugged along. Gross domestic product -- the broadest measure of economic activity -- rose at a 2.8% annual rate in the third quarter, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. That marked the fastest growth in a year and was stronger than economists had anticipated. But the looks of this GDP report can be deceiving. "In reality, it's a weaker report than it looks on the surface," said Adolfo Laurenti, deputy chief economist for Mesirow Financial. ... (full story)