The United States and California will both experience slow economic growth even though the recession has ended, according to the UCLA Anderson Forecast in its first quarterly report for 2010. Unemployment will remain high until 2012 due to still-sluggish job creation.

The national economy will grow 3.2 percent in the first quarter of 2010, leveling off to about 2 percent growth, the Forecast predicted. Overall growth for the year will be about 2.3 percent.

David Shulman, a senior economist for the UCLA Anderson Forecast said that recovery of exports, the rebound of home construction and strength in business equipment and software will help sustain recovery for the whole economy.

The gross domestic product is currently growing, and is predicted to grow 3.2 percent in 2010 and 2.3 percent in 2011. However, employment figures will likely lag behind, with 2 million fewer jobs expected since the peak in 2007.

California’s unemployment rate of 12.5 percent will slowly fall throughout 2010 to average 11.8 percent for the year. The Forecast sees little or no growth in the state this year, and mentions that the economy will not be generating enough jobs for unemployment to fall below double-digits until 2012.

Real personal income in California is predicted to grow 1.3 percent this year, and then grow by 3.7 percent in 2011 and 4.5 percent in 2012.

Inflation is another concern for the economy, Shulman said. But he believes the Federal Reserve will tighten its monetary policy to keep inflation under control.