The economy in the U.S. grew more than projected in the second quarter reflecting an unexpected pickup in inventory building as consumer spending cooled. Growth in the previous three months was revised down. Gross domestic product, the value of all goods and services produced, rose at a 1.7 percent annualized rate, after a 1.1 percent gain the prior quarter, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 85 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 1 percent advance for last quarter. Consumer spending, the biggest part of the economy, climbed 1.8 percent after increasing 2.3 ... (full story)