Consumer debt loads at record - 2004-03-18
U.S. consumers have assumed record levels of debt as low interest rates have prompted them to buy bigger houses and fancier cars and to charge more on credit cards than ever before.

But while historically low interest rates make the higher debt levels manageable now, the big unknown is what will happen when interest rates rise.
Read the full story at USATODAY.com via Yahoo! News

Home costs and sales surge - 2004-03-18
Home prices in Riverside and San Diego counties continued surging to record levels in February, largely the result of low mortgage interest rates and high demand in the areas, an industry report revealed Wednesday.

The median price for a home in Riverside County increased 20.8 percent to $285,000 in February, up from $236,000 in February 2003, DataQuick Information Systems reported.
Read the full story at The Californian