And has it been always that the Britain's economy was 1/10 the size of the US? According to the US commerce department, GDP growth in 2014 was 2.4%. 4.5% is a quarterly number. To expect US economy to grow above 4% on average for the next century, or even the next decade would be absurd.
"The U.S. economy grew at a 5.0 percent clip in the third quarter, its quickest pace in 11 years and the strongest sign yet that growth has decisively shifted into higher gear.
Some of the strength appears to have been sustained, with other data on Tuesday showing consumer spending rising solidly in November, offsetting surprisingly weak durable goods orders.
The reports further set the U.S. economy apart from the rest of the world, where growth is sputtering or activity shrinking.
"Our economy is firing on most cylinders, whereas the global economy is essentially in dire need of a spark," said Ryan Sweet, a senior economist at Moody's Analytics in West Chester Pennsylvania. "
Third-quarter U.S. economic growth strongest in 11 years| Reuters
It's not 4.5, from the sources I seen, it ranges, but never touching 4. There's an article on that, China adds more a year than the US.
5% growth in last quarter, actually. Not bad.