William Sluis

HOUSING STARTS Capped by higher rates After four record years in a row, and a boom that has extended for more than a decade, players in the housing industry keep...

TRADE DEFICIT Falling oil prices help The nation's trade deficit is greeted with yawns by most Americans, even as they hear that it threatens tomorrow's prosperity. The chorus declaring its...

EMPLOYMENT Hiring mostly frozen The economy may be showing modest evidence of a spring in its step, but complaints continue that the job situation is too slow in reviving from...

GROWTH RATE Carried by consumers Although credit card bills may be flooding the mail and gasoline prices remain sky-high, American consumers still are lugging the heavy burdens for the economy....

HOUSING STARTS Permits point to gain The biggest drop in new construction in 10-plus years sent a shudder through the real estate sector shortly before the holidays, but most analysts...

RETAIL SALES Cars drive gains No matter how much Americans spend or run up their credit cards, it is never enough. Never enough, that is, if those who are passing...

JOBS Still waiting for growth The job market's less than remarkable rebound in 2004 has resembled the challenge facing a person recovering from a post-holiday hangover. After creating millions of...

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE Energy bills take a toll The holiday is ended, the turkey is reduced to leftovers and the gift-wrap is headed to the curb. What next? It's time for...

RETAIL SALES Consumers cut back Almost on cue, Americans step up to the plate at this time of year and swat a barrage of home runs for the nation's retailers....

PRICE INDEX Modest gain predicted With gold near a 16-year high, the price of oil still high, and consumers flashing their credit cards ahead of the holidays, some analysts are...