All of these corporate chieftains are saying new hiring is in the cards, around the corner, down the road -- but that doesn't mean March.

The economy is motoring along and we are indeed creating more than a decent amount of jobs. But there are a number of hurdles that lie in our path of prosperity ? record energy prices and the economic consequences of Hurricane Katrina.

The industrial production number is the benchmark -- other surveys, while they're good, pale in comparison to the strength this indicator has.

I don't think these high energy prices are going away any time soon. Consumers are pulling back.

I don't think this is worrisome at all. We're coming off an extremely strong month.

By any measure, third-quarter economic growth was quite impressive. It would be even more impressive if it could be sustained in the fourth quarter, but we're almost certain to lose some momentum.

Higher prices are back, which bodes ill for those expecting a quick end to Fed rate hikes. It looks like inflation is going onward and upward in the first quarter.

By historical comparison, there's not an economist on the street that can call housing weak right now.

I had a low forecast for February simply because we had terrible weather, ... Yet, we still managed to have this kind of activity. So this is very encouraging for housing. Had it not been for the inclement weather, we would have had a stronger posting.

I'm not at all convinced this recovery we're having is going to be as smooth as we've had in previous recoveries.