The US economy expanded at a 1.9% annual rate in the first three months of the year, a weak pace that few economists see changing much this year.
The Commerce Department made no change in its third and final estimate for growth in the January-March quarter.
Slower growth in consumer spending was offset by faster growth in businesses investment in buildings, leaving the overall pace the same.
Most economists say growth has likely stayed the same or possibly weakened since then.
A sluggish job market and diminished consumer and business confidence have likely kept the economy from accelerating in the April-June quarter.
Growth of around 1.9% typically generates roughly 90,000 jobs a month.
That is too weak to lower the unemployment rate, which was 8.2% last month.
Separately, the Labor Department said the number of people seeking weekly unemployment benefits fell but not enough to signal stronger hiring in June.
Applications declined by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 386,000.
When applications rise above 375,000, it generally means that hiring is not strong enough to rapidly lower the unemployment rate.
The government offers three estimates for gross domestic product, or GDP, which is the output of all goods and services. It includes everything from a cup of coffee to production of military jets.
Consumer spending accounts for roughly 70% of economic activity.
It grew at a 2.5% annual rate in the first quarter, slightly below the previous 2.7% estimate.
Home construction grew at an annual rate of 20%, even better than estimated a month ago.
Many economists say the housing market is finally starting to recover and that housing will contribute to annual growth for the first time in five years.
A closely watched private survey released this week showed consumer confidence fell in June for the fourth straight month. The Conference Board said worries about the job market outweighed lower gas prices and steady improvement in the housing market.
Employers have added an average of just 73,000 jobs a month in April and May.
That followed average gains of 226,000 a month in the first three months of the year.
US manufacturing activity, which has helped drive growth since the recession ended three years ago, has weakened.
Factories produced less in May than April, the Federal Reserve said earlier this month.
Automakers cut back on output for the first time in six months.
In June, manufacturing activity barely grew in the New York region and contracted sharply in the Philadelphia area, according to surveys by regional Federal Reserve banks.
Europe's debt crisis has dampened demand for US exports. And consumers barely increased their spending at retail businesses in May and April.
There are some hopeful signs that things are improving. US factories received more orders for long-lasting manufactured goods in May, while a key measure of business investment plans rose.
And the housing market is looking a little better. Home sales are up from last year, home prices are rising in most cities, and homebuilders are planning to break ground on more projects in the next 12 months.
Still, the Federal Reserve has downgraded its forecast for the year. It now expects growth of just 1.9% to 2.4% for 2012.
That is half a percentage point lower than its previous estimate in April. And it thinks the unemployment rate will not fall much further this year.
