How did the Battle of the Bulge affect the outcome of World War 2?

This was the last major push by the Germans in December of 44 it was a complete surprise intially but was an utter failure in its proposed goals. The waste of the cream of the German armed forces was a huge bonus to the allies. Not only where men and equipment wasted, but scarce fuel was used up or destroyed as well. The losses of tens of thousands of waffen ss, regular ss, and other battle-hardened troops from the eastern front no doubt shortened that theatre by a small period.