The US economy grew faster than initially thought in the third quarter, with the strong momentum likely to further bolster the Federal Reserve’s case for an interest rate hike next month.

美国经济第三季度增速快于最初估算，强劲的增长势头可能使美联储(Federal Reserve)更有理由下月启动加息。

Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.1 per cent annual pace, up from the 1.5 per cent rate reported last month, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday in its second GDP estimate for the June-September period.

美国商务部(Commerce Department)周二公布对第三季度国内生产总值(GDP)的第二次估算时表示，GDP按年率计算增长2.1%，高于上月预估的1.5%。

The GDP report comes as the Fed signalled that it will consider raising rates at its next meeting in December.

此次GDP报告的出炉正值美联储表示将考虑在12月的会议上启动加息。

Although third-quarter growth remains well below the 3.9 per cent rate recorded for the second quarter, the solid numbers — fuelled by improved consumer spending — should reinforce the view among US policymakers that the economy is on a steady growth trajectory.

虽然第三季度经济增速仍远低于第二季度录得的3.9%，但这些强劲数据——由消费者加大支出驱动——应当会让美国的政策制定者们更加坚信国内经济处于稳定增长的轨道。