The government said gross domestic product expanded at a 2.8 percent rate from April through June, rather than the 3.3 percent rate it estimated a month ago.

Government data show the nation’s industrial output plunged in August by 1.1 percent, nearly four times the amount that had been expected.

Analysts say Gustav’s punishing blow to the Louisiana coastline will cost nowhere near as much as the industry’s single largest insured loss three years ago.

The nation’s airlines had hoped for a fresh start after Labor Day, with streamlined schedules and smaller fleets that were meant to help them cope better with the high cost of jet fuel.

Waves of relief rather than water washed over the oil patch after Hurricane Gustav’s punch appeared to be much less powerful than those of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina three years ago.

In 2002, Mark Schleifstein and his colleagues published a five-day report about the vulnerabilities Louisiana would face if a major hurricane hit. And three years later, the time came.