US real gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 3.1% in the second quarter, according to the third estimate of GDP growth released today by the US Commerce Department. The new estimate is up from the previous estimate that pegged growth at 3.0%.

In the first quarter, real GDP advanced 1.2%.

The US expanded in the spring at the fastest clip in two years, showing the economy has plenty of strength left more than eight years into a recovery, MarketWatch reported. Consumers have carried the load through higher spending, but businesses have upped the ante lately by investing more.

“Keep in mind that these are [second-quarter] estimates, and a whole lot has happened in just a few short weeks,” Mike Loewengart, VP of investment strategy at E*Trade, told MarketWatch, referring to the recent hurricanes, which are expected to take a whack out of third-quarter GDP growth.