Those things don't exist now. I think right now they're much more transparent in their accounting for their economy.

The best you can say is that the German economy remains in dire straits and under duress and as far as what it means for policy... it's a beacon call to the ECB to cut rates,

This is the toughest and most challenging year for the economy.

The U.S. economy is performing so admirably right now, it is hard to believe how good it is. We have strong growth, declining inflation, strong profits, rising real wages. All of these things are happening at the same time and there is no sign that any of this is about to end.

This could mark a turning point. After all, the Fed was right, the latest slowdown was temporary and the economy is about to gain speed going into the second half of 2005, which would imply that more rate hikes lie ahead.

This could mark a turning point, ... After all, the Fed was right, the latest slowdown was temporary and the economy is about to gain speed going into the second half of 2005, which would imply that more rate hikes lie ahead.