The White House says the U.S. economy is expected to show growth by the end of this year.

On CNN’s “State of the Union,” White House budget director Peter Orszag said that although the struggling economy has backed away from the precipice it had been teetering on, a return to economic growth has not yet occurred.

He said he expects sharp improvement in second quarter gross domestic product growth figures, which will be released later this month.

But Orszag also said Sunday that unemployment --- now approaching ten percent --- could take some time to turn around.