While the U.S. economy has slowed "perhaps a little bit quickly," it still has a "very, very strong" foundation and should not prompt a significant shift away from fiscal discipline, Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew said Thursday afternoon. In an interview with CNBC television, Lew said, "It's unfortunate that some were talking down the economy. We're still growing." "I think that most observers expected the economy and the rate of growth to slow down and I think we have seen that happen. It did happen relatively late in the year and I think it's fair to say that it happened perhaps a little bit quickly," he added.