U.S. economy stagnant in Q1

Commerce Department’s initial estimate shows GDP grew just 0.2 percent in first quarter 2015.    U.S. Gross Domestic Product, the broadest measure of economic activity, grew at a paltry 0.2 percent in the first quarter, according to the initial estimate from Commerce Department on Wednesday.
   Severe winter weather and the West Coast port labor dispute likely contributed to the weak productivity. Most economists expect the economy to be much better the rest of the year, much the same way it bounced back from negative growth in the first quarter of 2014.
   The U.S. economy grew 2.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014.
   The first quarter was marked by a downturn in exports of 7.2 percent from the fourth quarter, Commerce said.