To: Jerry Olson who wrote (39184 ) 4/20/2001 7:04:38 AM From: IQBAL LATIF Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 50167 On every point of your post, the facts I investigated and most respectfully 'facts differ from made to assume myths'....please free to feel different if you have evidence more stronger than this.. <???..our economy is in trouble, thats what it means> The latest answer, it is definitely improving..and the market discounts htis improvement a 6 months early.. dismal.com The Philadelphia Fed index continues to show contraction in the regional manufacturing industry, but it has climbed markedly for the third month in a row to -7.2% in April verses -23.5% in March. This is indicative of a weak, but improving manufacturing outlook for the Philadelphia Fed region. The upturn this month suggests that the loosening of monetary policy by the Fed is beginning to have an impact. <what with oil and gasoline prices spiking higher, >dismal.com The latest inventory data released by the API are EIA are bearish for crude oil and moderately bearish for motor gasoline and distillates. A strong build in crude has pushed inventories to their highest level since August 1999. <layoffs still not heavily in the pipeline > Initial jobless claims fell last week to 385,000 from 395,000 one week earlier. Despite the decline, however, this volatile measure’s four-week moving average edged upward slightly. Continuing claims for the week ending April 7 also declined to 2,513,000 from 2,560,000 a week earlier. Its four-week moving average also continued its steady rise. The one-week declines do not signal any improvement in labor markets, for which conditions will likely worsen before they get better. dismal.com