Today

U.S. consumers' confidence fell to a nine-month low in March

"What is most worrisome is that the economic outlook component sank below 50 this month. The last time it did that was back in March of 2003, on the eve of the Iraq war,"
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The national average price of on-highway diesel jumped 5.0 cents to $2.168 per gallon, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) has reported.

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Canada's housing starts were at an annual rate of 214,900 in February, up 5.3% from January's pace.
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State Department Report Says China (China?) Still Committing Numerous Rights Abuses and many who openly expressed dissenting political views were harassed, detained or imprisoned, "particularly in a campaign late in the year against writers, religious activists, dissidents, and petitioners to the Central Government."


Commodity Prices Climb to 24-Year High on Global Demand Growth

Commodity prices surged to a 24-year high, led by gains in copper and crude oil, on concern that global economic growth is eroding inventories of raw materials faster than supplies can be replenished.