Housing starts remain healthy.
Headlines have been announcing tens of thousands of layoffs across a wide range of businesses, from airlines to media to high-tech to financial services. All forecasts are, in a sense, contingent forecasts . . . An increased measure of fear and uncertainty amongst households and business . But no one has a clue, based on history, what is going to happen . But, officials add, that figure doesn't yet include the impact of Sept. 11 and the subsequent security costs.