Source: Kevin G. Hall, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/29/11

Analysts remained confident that the U.S. economy will continue to grow despite the data showing a sharp slowdown during the first three months of the year, which raised concerns in some quarters that the fragile recovery may be sputtering back into weakness and rising unemployment.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis released data showing a sluggish annual growth rate of 1.8 percent for the quarter, down from a 3.1 percent annual rate in the final three months of 2010.

For more of this story, click here.