The U.S. economy was growing slowly in the fourth quarter, rising at a 0.6% annual rate, the slowest pace since late 2002.

The 0.6% estimate for gross domestic product was unrevised from the previous two estimates and was exactly as forecast by economists. The economy grew at a 4.9% annual rate in the third quarter.

For the current quarter, which ends Monday, economists expect U.S. growth to be flat. For the second quarter, economists expect U.S. GDP to fall 1%.

For all of 2007, the U.S. economy grew at the weakest pace in five years, rising at an inflation-adjusted 2.2% after a 2.9% gain in 2006.