2.0%

....as in "the preliminary estimate of GDP for 3Q 2010 that will be adjusted downward at least half a percentage point before the number is actually finalized two months from now".

Given the roaring success of Obamanomics up to now, two percent actually seems robust by comparison:

U.S. economic growth edged up as expected in the third quarter but not enough to chip away at high unemployment or change perceptions of more monetary easing from the Federal Reserve next week.

Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.0% annual rate as consumer spending rose at its quickest pace since 2006 and businesses continued to rebuild inventories, the CommerceDepartment said on Friday. The economy expanded at a 1.7% rate in the second quarter and third-quarter growth matched economists’ expectations.

“Growth is still positive, but a bit disappointing. It’s not where we would like it to be at this point of the recovery,” said Scott Brown, chief economist at Raymond James & Associates in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Let's get the oligatories out of the way: No, this "growth" rate will not make a dent in, or even slow down, the inexorable growth of unemployment; yes, this was the Democrats' one, only, and last chance at some genuinely positive economic news with which to survive the Noahic electoral deluge, now just hours away, and they didn't get it.  Guess it'll suck to be them, huh?

But I'd like to sprinkle on my own dusting of happy, if you wouldn't mind.

To wit: Why has consumer spending spiked upward now?  Might I suggest that it is due to two factors? (1) the looming automatic killer tax increase that will impact this tottering, ragged, woebegone economy like a comet on January 1st and lay it absolutely waste; and (2) Helicopter Ben's determination to take a monetary flame thrower to what's left of the value of the dollar and send the U.S. economy - and the U.S. - the way of the Weimar Republic.  People are buying what they can and need to purchase now, while they still have jobs and money that still has a modicum of purchasing power, because starting next year "economic uncertainty" is going to make the current version look like arrogant complacency.

Looks like I've pilfered some of Reason TV's thunder, but fear not - they have plenty of happy dust to go around.