U.S. economy grows 0.6% in first quarter (by Rex Nutting)

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The U.S. economy barely kept its head above water in the first three months of the year, growing at an annual rate of 0.6% on inventory building, export strength and a never-say-die consumer. Growth in real gross domestic product in the first quarter was estimated at 0.6% for the second straight quarter, ahead of the 0.2% expected by economists. The headline GDP figure was stronger than the details of the report. Final sales of domestic product fell 0.2%, while final domestic sales dropped 0.4%, the first decline since the recession of 1991.