Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

A sold sign is seen in fron of a new home in Jefferson, Pa., Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Gene J. Puskar

The U.S. economy grew at a 2.8 per cent annual rate in the final three months of last year, the fastest growth in 2011.

Americans spent more on cars and trucks, and companies built up their stockpiles. But growth in the October-December quarter and all of last year was held back by the biggest annual government spending cuts in four decades.

The Commerce Department said Friday that the economy grew just 1.7 per cent last year, roughly half of the growth in 2010 and the worst since the recession.

Most economists expect businesses to ease up on restocking in the first three months of the year. That should slow first-quarter growth. And consumers may cut back on spending if their wages continue to lag inflation.

In the final three months of last year, consumer spending grew at a 2 per cent annual rate. That's up modestly from the third quarter.

Much of the growth was powered by a 14.8 per cent surge in sales of autos and other long-lasting manufactured goods.

Incomes, which have been weak all year because of high unemployment, grew at a modest 0.8 per cent rate. That followed two straight quarters of declining incomes.

Consumer spending is important because it makes up 70 per cent of economic activity.

Spending by government at all levels fell at an annual rate of 4.6 per cent in the fourth quarter and 2.1 per cent for the year — the biggest decline since 1971.

Sweeping federal defence cuts at the beginning and end of 2011 were a major factor.

Richard DeKaiser, a senior economist at Parthenon Group, expects just 2 per cent annual growth in the January-March quarter. But Kaiser says that should be the weakest quarter. He expects the economy to gain strength in each quarter and grow 2.6 per cent for the entire year.