William Sluis

U.S. EXPANSION Slower but strong When Americans are told that the economy has been growing at a sizzling rate of 8.2 percent, some inevitably grow skeptical. Doubters say the growth...

HOME BUYERS Year-end chill Simply mentioning the possibility that mortgage interest rates may move higher has provided fuel for keeping the market for housing afire. Through all of last year,...

ECONOMY Smooth sailing, mostly The economy heads into a new year under full sail, or so the optimists are telling us. With growth in the third quarter of 2003 at...

2004 ECONOMY Is growth for real? With the year 2003 reduced to embers, the next question is how the economy will fare in the 12 months ahead. A dramatic jump...

ECONOMY Picking up pace Thanks to a witch's brew of tax cuts, revved-up government spending on both military gear and civilian benefits, and the lowest interest rates in 45 years,...

REAL ESTATE Mortgage dropoff Whether the credit should go to the stimulative effects of cheap credit, a weakening dollar, a round of tax cuts or the tenacity of the American...

BIG SPENDING Forecasts cloudy With the economy percolating along, growing at an annual rate of 8 percent-plus, a robust holiday spending season would appear to be a no-brainer. But many...

BIG SPENDERS August sales up Just as school kids are admonished not to carry a too heavy a backpack crammed with books, some consumers may need a warning about lugging...

JOB MARKET Lagging recovery Americans are willing to accept the idea that the economy is starting to regain its balance after a stubborn bout of weakness, but they won't fully...

CAUTIOUS SENTIMENT Pessimism on jobs While economists leap to their charts with each report that points to a revival of activity, consumers have been slow to join the chorus of...