Mass. Economic Growth Outpaces Nation's ... For Now

A new report finds that Massachusetts' economy has been growing significantly faster than the nation's.

The report, published by the University of Massachusetts, says Massachusetts' economy grew at a rate of 6.4 percent in the second quarter — four points faster than the national growth rate.

During the second quarter, the state also saw its strongest job growth since the 1980s.

The report says the state's growth was due to boosts from the economic stimulus package and from technology product demand.

But Robert Nakosteen, the editor of MassBenchmarks, pointed out that growth in the wake of the recession has happened in fits and starts. "We see things starting to move up, but there are going to be many pauses and many hiccups along the way," Nakosteen said.

The report said that the state may next head into one of those "hiccups," predicting that growth will slow as effects of the stimulus package fade. "I don't necessarily expect a double-dip recession, but I certainly do expect a pause in the growth rates we're experiencing."

Report: