William Sluis

ECONOMIC GROWTH Chilly forecast A less-than-stellar conclusion to 2002 has economists fretting that the economy may once again tumble into recession. With industrial production in decline, the job market stagnant,...

REAL ESTATE Fading a bit As the nation's retailers continue to lick their wounds from a so-so holiday spending season, economists say things weren't all that bad. One reason: While...

DETROIT RESCUE Retailers' blues A not-so-jolly holiday season for the nation's retailers ended with complaints that activity was anemic, lackluster and unspectacular. Despite doorbuster specials and half-off newspaper coupons, merchants,...

JOBLESSNESS Hiring still slow While Americans have heard much talk about a gathering economic recovery, the environment remains chancy for those seeking work. Companies are reluctant to hire for a...

ATTITUDE CHECK Doubting, buying Americans remain ambivalent about the strength of the economy, harboring deep uncertainties over their prospects for the coming year. Perhaps it's the stock market, snared in...

HOME SALES Bright lights While the lights of the economy keep blinking on and off in a halting pattern, the brightest star in the firmament is housing construction. Crews in...

SHOPPING Holiday mood Thanks to "door-buster" specials, "gate-crasher" bargains and half-off deals, the nation's retailers are growing hopeful that holiday spending will exceed last year's levels. Optimists are saying that...

EMPLOYMENT Payroll growth A fitful expansion has Americans looking to the holidays for evidence that the economy's many lagging components, including the job market, are finally starting to pick up....

OUTLOOK. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE Looking less grim When surveyors ask Americans how things are going, they invariably respond with scowls and frowns. They express a litany of concerns about the economy,...

CONSTRUCTION Return to normal The economy's high-octane engine, fueled by a steady diet of low interest rates, is supposed to be revving up to full speed as the expansion approaches...