International Monetary Fund officials say U.S. economic growth slowed from a bit less than 3 percent in the last half of 2010 to a bit less than 2 percent in the first half of this year.

An assessment of the U.S. economy published Monday predicts growth will pick up late this year and early next year, as high gasoline prices moderate and Japanese factories resume sending parts to their American customers after they recover from multiple disasters in that nation.

The IMF said the U.S. recovery has been slowed by falling housing prices, high unemployment and slack demand. Jobless people lack the money to make the purchases that drive the economy, which in turn, hurts demand and raises unemployment.

The report's authors predict a slow and gradual improvement in the U.S. unemployment situation.