The Clinton administration has forecast the American economy will grow steadily over the next ten years, continuing a record period of expansion set over the past decade.

In their annual report to congress, White House economic experts said that low inflation and strong productivity had contributed to the current growth, and predicted more new jobs would be created in coming years.

The experts said that increased competition in the global economy and rapid changes in technology had helped to sustain the boom. On Monday, President Clinton unveiled his final budget before leaving office, saying the American economy was stronger than ever, and promising to use a budget surplus to fund an increase in government spending.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service