The fastest-growing technology companies just aren't growing as fast as they used to. Deloitte today announced its Technology Fast 500, an annual ranking of the top tech companies in terms of growth, and even the hottest vendors have cooled off a little thanks to the recession.

The average growth rate for the Fast 500, which ranks North American companies based on their revenue growth over the past five years, was 2,486 percent this year, down from 3,206 in 2008 and way off the 10-year high of 6,772 percent in 2002. "The winning companies are not immune to the economy," said Mark Jensen, managing partner of Deloitte's venture capital services, adding that "as the economy eventually recovers, we expect the average growth rate to increase."