US growth may be mild, but it's also durable

The US economy's tepid performance last quarter - a 2.2 percent annual growth rate - was typical of the economic rebound that began in the summer of 2009. Yet the sluggish pace of the recovery has a silver lining: This growth spurt has proved to be one of the most durable since World War II.

Will it last? It'll depend on a number of factors in the months ahead, including a potential rate hike by the Fed, the strong dollar, oil prices and consumer spending.

The economy's performance in the October-December period matched the average growth of the past five years - a lackluster pace that has been far lower than the growth gains normally seen coming out of such a deep recession.