The U.S. economy sputtered to a near stop in the second quarter, according to new estimates from the government released Friday, although the slowdown wasn't as bad as many had feared.

The nation's gross domestic product, the broadest measure on the amount of spending by consumers, businesses and government, was revised sharply lower to an annual growth rate of 1.6% in the three months ending in June. The initial reading had been for a 2.4% growth rate in the period.

The report fed into growing fears that the nation could be at risk of a new economic downturn known as a double-dip recession, leading some economists to darken their outlook for the economy, upping estimates for another slowdown.

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