Bloomberg reported that the U.S. economy grew less than previously estimated in the second quarter, capping the weakest six months of the recovery that began in mid 2009. Gross domestic product climbed at a 1% annual rate from April through June, down from a 1.3% prior estimate, revised Commerce Department figures showed. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News called for a 1.1% increase.

Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke noted in a recent speech that the central bank still has tools to spur the economy without signaling whether policy makers are likely to deploy them. Another report showed consumer sentiment this month fell to the lowest level since November 2008 amid financial-market turmoil and political wrangling over the budget deficit, Bloomberg said.

Quoting a senior fixed-income strategist at State Street Global Markets, Bloomberg said, “With growth so tepid and the economy so fragile, any kind of shock could tip us over into a double-dip recession.”

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