Home/American Shipper/U.S. economy grew 4.1% in 3Q American Shipper U.S. economy grew 4.1% in 3Q FreightWaves Staff · Friday, December 20, 2013 It is the highest quarterly growth for the U.S. economy since the recession five years ago and, along with unemployment falling below 7 percent, signals that the pace of economic recovery is quickening.