 The U.S. economy was still growing during the first three months of this year, though at a far slower pace than the final quarter of last year. The government in a slight upgrade from its previous forecast, saying the economy expanded at a 1.4% annual rate during the January through March quarter, where it says consumer spending grew at just a 1.5% rate down from earlier estimates. Slowing in economic growth was blamed on two factors, business inventories and a surge in imports.