Subprime woes said marginal to U.S. economy - 2007-03-21
The U.S. economy will not crash as a result of the subprime mortgage meltdown, several economists declared. Among the offsets to the weak housing sector are relatively low interest and mortgage rates, Dijk and other economists say. Another stabilizing factor is the job market, with its 4.5 percent unemployment rate. Wage growth is also steady, with average weekly earnings 3.8 percent higher this year.
Read the full story at Monsters and Critics.com

Housing starts rebound but permits fall - 2007-03-21
Housing starts recovered from a nine-year low in February, according to the latest government reading on the battered home-building industry, but persistent weakness allowed builders to pull back on plans for more housing. Starts of new homes jumped to an annual rate of 1.53 million last month from the revised 1.40 million pace in January, the lowest in nine years. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast starts would rebound to a 1.45 million annual pace.
Read the full story at CNNMoney.com