The U.S. Economy should continue on a course of moderate growth over the next two years, University of Michigan economists forecasted Thursday — a process they are calling a marathon rather than a sprint.

“Job gains have picked up a notch, consumer sentiment has recouped about half the ground lost this summer and the chances of another downturn have diminished,” economist Joan Crary told The Detroit Free Press. “History shows, however, that it is much more difficult to recover after a financial crisis like the Great Recession than it is after a more typical recession, and policymakers are still struggling with ways to restore balance to the economy.”

The University of Michigan’s annual forecast is widely regarded by many in the business and community as an accurate gauge — tracking business trends, manufacturing, employment and consumer sentiment. The Michigan team is forecasting 2.5 percent growth in U.S. Gross Domestic Product for both 2012 and 2013, according to the Free Press report. The full UofM report will be published today. It is based on the Michigan Quarterly Econometric Model of the U.S. Economy.

The team is projecting the addition of 4 million jobs in the American economy in the next two years, ticking unemployment rates below 9 percent.

To read the Free Press story click here.