NEW YORK: Analysts have been stumped by the apparent resilience of the U.S. economy, which seemed to be bounding ahead at a 3.5 percent pace in the final quarter of last year even as the housing market fell and the Federal Reserve raised interest rates.

The paradox has been solved: The economy was not bounding. The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that economic growth inched ahead by 2.2 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, only slightly faster than the 2 percent growth recorded in the third quarter and far below the economy’s long-term trend rate of growth.

NEW YORK CITY-Real Estate as an alternative to stock investments? If you thought you’ve heard it before, you ain’t heard nothing yet. While the country reeled at Tuesday’s stock market nosedive and wondered what the implications would be on the economy, real estate experts found their glasses more than half full. Because despite falling stock prices across the globe, a stock market correction could have a positive impact on real estate, pushing yet more investors into this “stable” industry.“We don’t think a stock price correction affects the real estate market,” Fitch Ratings’ Steven Marks tells GlobeSt.com and Moody’s Merrie Frankel agrees. “It’s still full-steam ahead. I haven’t seen anything changing in people’s perspective of the business in the last 24 hours.”

Legacy Hotels Real Estate Investment Trust, owner of landmarks such as Quebec City’s Chateau Frontenac, is scouting for a buyer, adding its name to a growing list of REITs that are testing the waters of the hot property market.

Legacy, which has a portfolio of 25 properties, said Thursday it has hired investment bankers and formed a special committee of trustees to advise the board on strategic alternatives.

The board has not set a deadline for the review, and has cautioned that it may stick with the status quo as the best value for investors.