Obama's top economic adviser quits

US top economic adviser Christina Romer, who helped chart plans to tide over the country's deepest recession since the Great Depression, would leave the White House early next month.

Romer will resume her position as professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley.

As chair of the Council of Economic Advisor's (CEA), Romer helped US President Barack Obama help chart the response to the deepest recession since the Great Depression.

Under Romer's leadership, the CEA has been providing detailed analysis of economic developments critical to Obama's economic policy. Obama said Romer had long stated her desire to return to California, where her son will be starting high school in the fall.

"Christy Romer has provided extraordinary service to me and our country during a time of economic crisis and recovery," he added.

Romer said it has been the "honor of a lifetime" to serve the country and the President through such a critical time.

"While I look forward to returning to research and teaching, the opportunity to help shape economic policy these past 20 months, and to work with the other members of the economic team and my colleagues on the CEA, is one I will always cherish," she said.