Shoppers browse items in an aisle at Target in Falls Church, Va., in May. Weaker spending by consumers was a factor in the GDP results for the U.S. economy in the second quarter. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

The United States economy expanded at a 2.4 per cent annual pace during the second quarter, a slowdown from the 3.7 per cent expansionary pace it had during the first three months of 2010.

Weaker spending by consumers, less growth coming from companies restocking shrunken stockpiles and a bigger drag from America's trade deficits were the main factors behind the second quarter's slowdown, the Commerce Department said.

The revised 3.7 per cent growth from the first quarter is substantially above the 2.7 per cent rate initially estimated. But despite the upward revision, the rate of expansion of the U.S. economy has slowed down for two consecutive quarters after emerging from recession.