Retail Sales Strong . . . Housing Construction On The Rise . Lower mortgage rates are helping to keep the market stable. At A 10-year Low . . . Federal Reserve officials are concerned that business spending on new plants and equipment may remain weak for an indefinite period, particularly in the high-tech sector.
Consumer Confidence Weakens . . .
Consumers' assessment of current business conditions fell in April. Consumer sentiment is an important economic indicator since consumer spending accounts for two thirds of the nation's overall economic activity.