There is a long list of factors reportedly contributing to the lower-than expected numbers, including severe winter weather, a slowdown at West Coast ports due to a strike, a stronger U.S. dollar, weak global demand, and lower oil prices, according to The Wall Street Journal.
In addition to the country's weak growth, prices also fell 2 percent, the most since the first quarter of 2009. With such little economic reassurance from the Commerce Department's report Wednesday, it is unlikely the Federal Reserve will raise inflation rates before September.
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