Today's move came against the backdrop of an economy that appeared to have dipped into a zone of tepid growth just short of recession.

Just as worrisome, some analysts said, was tepid growth in the once-robust services sector.

And then, in the early 1970's, the United States tumbled into a rut of tepid economic growth, which still prevails.

Would he hunker down to what seems likely to be four more years of tepid growth, political fingerpointing and policy gridlock?

Spain's economy has barely emerged from recession and tepid growth has been aggravated by austerity measures.

Others are predicting a long period of tepid growth, with the possibility that the economy could resume shrinking.

Such figures reflect tepid growth in confidence in the economy among corporate executives, and the year ended with some scattered signs of continued revival.

They worry that tepid growth in productivity will deny many younger families the perquisites of middle-class life.

Some data is so rosy that critics say it does not reflect reality in a nation that still has tepid growth and nearly double-digit unemployment.

But for now, New York's economy is showing few signs of slowing, even as evidence mounts of more tepid growth in the suburbs.