Poor Employment Data Suggests Second-Half Economic Slowdown - 2004-03-05
Solution providers could be dealing with a tougher-than-expected sales environment in the second half of this year, given the employment data released Friday by the Labor Department.

Past tax cuts and mortgage refinancing have kept enough money in consumers' pockets to keep the rate of spending relatively robust, helping the economy recover from the 2001 recession.
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US February mortgage prepayments higher on low rates - 2004-03-05
More U.S. homeowners prepaid their mortgages in February after a drop in loan rates at the start of the year re-energized refinancing, analysts said on Friday.

Prepayments last month rebounded more strongly than the market expected after hitting a two-year low in January.

About $70 billion of fixed-rate loans that support mortgage securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were paid off in February.
Read the full story at Reuters via iWon