Consumer debt growth cools down - 2004-01-30
UK consumer credit and mortgage lending growth both cooled down in December, a month after the Bank of England last hiked interest rates, official figures show.

Consumer credit rose by £834m, up by 0.5% on the previous month - the lowest rate of increase since March 1997.

Mortgage lending growth also slowed but remained relatively buoyant, rising by £7.28bn against £8.6bn in November.
Read the full story at BBC

Bay Area housing values healthy -- for now - 2004-01-30
Don't worry, the Bay Area's housing bubble isn't about to burst. Although home prices have jumped in the Bay Area, a leading observer of the housing market believes homeowners will continue to enjoy robust residential values.

"Interest rates are the most important factor," Inman told an Association of Bay Area Governments conference. "Lower interest rates mean monthly mortgage payments are about the same," even when prices rise.
Read the full story at Contra Costa Times