Central Valley among least affordable housing areas in nation - 2006-02-24
Less California families can afford homes in most parts of California during the fourth quarter of 2005 than they could during the third quarter, based on a nationwide affordability report released by the California Building Industry Association. The report discovered that the state's already low affordability rates dropped 15 of the state's 24 metro areas, and climbed only marginally in the other areas.
Read the full story at Central Valley Business Times

Shaky geopolitics and a booming world economy - 2006-02-24
As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East seem to ratchet higher, world markets and the global economy are prospering. The vibrancy of the world economy in recent years has been puzzling for many given a seemingly endless spiral of crises in world's principal oil-producing region in recent years and in the face of a trebling of world crude prices since 2001.
Read the full story at Reuters