The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported today that real gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an estimated 4.0% annual rate in the 4th quarter of 2003, on the heels of remarkable 8.2% growth in the 3rd quarter. During the year, GDP grew at a robust average rate of 4.3%. By way of comparison, the economy grew at an average rate of 3.7% during the expansion of the 1990s.