Economy on track for best growth in nine years

Global growth is sputtering again. Most Americans remain pessimistic five years after the end of the Great Recession. And the deadly Ebola virus is adding fresh uncertainty.

Yet the U.S. economy continues to chug along and it could soon register its longest and strongest period of expansion in nine years.

On Thursday, the government is likely to report the U.S. grew 3% in the third quarter, right on the heels of 4.6% growth rate in the spring. What’s more, economists polled by MarketWatch predict the nation will also grow at least 3% in the final three months of 2014. The last time the U.S. posted three straight quarters of similar growth was from late 2005 through early 2006.