Gauge of U.S. economy higher in latest week - 2007-02-23
A gauge of future U.S. economic growth climbed in the latest week on lower jobless claims and interest rates, although the annualized rate of growth nudged down, a research group declared on Friday. The Economic Cycle Research Institute, an independent forecasting group, said its Weekly Leading Index went up to 139.3 in the week ending Feb. 16 from 138.9 in the prior week.
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Latest hot real estate? Midwest Farmland - 2007-02-23
Ethanol fever is not only pushing up corn and soybean prices and putting extra money in farmers' pockets these days, but it's helping to fuel a surge in agricultural real estate prices as well, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago highlighted this week. The cost of good-quality farmland surged an eye popping 13 percent in Iowa last year, according to the Chicago Fed's February agricultural newsletter.
Read the full story at Chicago Tribune