Washington, Aug 04: US President George W Bush says the economy's improved growth rate in the second quarter is a sign that his policies are starting to have a positive effect -though he acknowledges unemployment is still a problem. "The best way to promote growth and job creation is to leave more money in the pockets of households and small businesses, instead of taxing it away," Bush said in a radio address.

“So we lowered income tax rates, cut taxes on dividends and capital gains, reduced the marriage penalty and increased the child tax credit."
The nation's gross domestic product, the broadest barometer of the economy's shape, expanded at an annual rate of 2.4 per cent in the April to June quarter, government economists said this week. That was the fastest growth rate since last summer.

The President warned, however, that the jobless rate shows there is more work to do on the economy.
The nation's unemployment rate dipped to 6.2 per cent in July, but businesses cut jobs for the sixth month in a row, despite signs the economy is on the mend.
Still, Bush cited the statistics as a sign of more improvement to the economy in coming months. Bureau Report