William Sluis

ROARING REAL ESTATE Like a lion Through war and a slowdown of hostilities, Americans remain focused on one clear goal for the future: placing a new roof over their heads....

CONSUMERS' BURDEN Propping up sales Those who fret about a double-dip recession fear that consumers, the economy's heavily burdened pack animals, can't carry the load much longer for sectors that...

JOB MARKET ON ICE Confidence shaky As the armaments of war light up the sky, Americans remain focused on economic problems that were in place before the military conflagration began....

FADED EXPECTATIONS Watching the war Americans have been displaying a stiff upper lip, going about their daily routines with fortitude and calm at a time of maximum global danger. The...

HOME CONSTRUCTION Signs of slippage By now, a torrent of money, fed by the lowest interest rates in three generations, was supposed to lubricate the economy and get things humming....

CONSUMERS Spending wanes After many months of lugging the economy's wagon through recession and mire, there are signs the hard-pulling, 20-mule team of consumers is running out of stamina. Blame...

HIRING AT A CRAWL Uncertainty rules Whether it's nervousness over a buildup of military forces in the Middle East or a general absence of business confidence, one fact stands out...

HOUSING Slowdown seen As the nation's manufacturing base drifts away in the direction of China, the economy is growing more dependent on a single engine for economic growth: residential construction....

BUYING BAROMETER January chill Pessimists about the economy have continued to fret that consumers will finally begin to hibernate, after a lengthy spree of sunny spending. Their reasoning: A cold...

EMPLOYMENT Hiring on hold As Americans celebrate Groundhog Day, some are wondering whether the economy has seen its shadow. How else to explain a general lack of enthusiasm and reluctance...