Signals of Stronger Economic Growth Return
· Retail sales for March climbed 1.1 percent following an upwardly revised 0.7 percent reading for February, signaling that consumer spending was not as soft as first expected to start the year.
· Housing starts rose for the second consecutive month in March, posting a 2.8 percent increase. Building permits fell for the month after surging in February.
· The March industrial production report brought more promising news as output rose 0.7 percent, following a 1.2 percent rise in February.
