Quick Overview

U.S. economic growth will slow and then likely stop by the end of President George W. Bush's second term in office as interest rate hikes hit hard, according to researchers at the .University of California Los Angeles



U.S. retail sales were up 0.5% in February. Excluding autos, sales were up 0.4%. January's sales were revised from a 0.3% loss to a 0.3% gain.

The U.S. Treasury's international capital flows data showed the United States attracted net capital inflows of $91.5 billion in January, from a revised $60.7 billion in December.


The Green Coffee Association said that U.S. coffee stocks were up 229,016 bags in February to 5.39 million bags. YoY this is down 7.5%.

Manufacturing shipments in Canada were up 3.0% in January to C$51.5 billion.

YoY China’s industrial production increased 17% in the first two months of 2005.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan told the Senate Special Committee on Aging that the federal budget deficit is a threat to the economy and that Social Security benefits will need to be cut to accommodate the growing numbers of retirees.