'We can carry this deficit,' says Bush crew - 2004-02-19
Treasury Secretary John Snow said Wednesday the federal deficit is too big and must shrink, but it will not come in the way of an economic recovery.

Snow compared this year's projected $521 billion deficit to a home mortgage. The more money you make, the larger the mortgage you can afford, much like the national economy and the deficit, he said.
Read the full story at The Daily News

Leading Indicators Higher in January - 2004-02-19
Evidence continues to mount that the U.S. economy is improving -- including on the jobs front. The Conference Board said Thursday that its Composite Index of Leading Economic Indicators rose 0.5 percent in December to 115.0 following gains of 0.2 percent in December and 0.3 percent in November.

Meanwhile, a nationwide survey showed mortgage rates around the country dropped this week to their lowest levels in seven months.
Read the full story at The Stamford Advocate