Brian Bethune Activity Quotations

We'll have very solid overall job gains that will punctuate the start of more normal activity in terms of employment,

Activity in the manufacturing sector picked up early in the second quarter, in line with strong underlying fundamentals in the economy and stronger overseas demand. We can look forward to solid overall output growth in the second quarter of 2006.

The warm weather in January will provide a temporary upward boost to housing construction, but activity is expected to taper off in February.