Buffett says economy continues to grow steadily

OMAHA, Neb. - Investor Warren Buffett says the economy continues the steady improvement that began in fall of 2009 and he remains optimistic about the future.

Buffett appeared on the business cable channel CNBC Monday morning after releasing an upbeat annual letter to his Berkshire Hathaway shareholders over the weekend. Buffett is chairman and CEO of the Omaha, Neb., conglomerate.

Buffett says the reports he gets from Berkshire's 80-odd subsidiaries in a variety of industries show that the economy is growing at a moderate rate.

He notes that there's been little change in the growth rate since 2009, despite swings in investors' mood.

But Buffett says he doesn't make investment decisions based on the economy. He says he focuses on the prospects of the business in which he's investing, and the price.