[Overall, following the statement,] the market is fairly clear that the Fed will keep raising rates by a quarter percentage point at each meeting through the end of the year, ... What the market is less sure of is what impact this will have on the economy.

279

Consumers still do appear to be spending their (tax) rebate checks, but perhaps not as aggressively as we would have hoped. Certainly corporate profits still look pretty bleak headed into the third-quarter warning season.

278

The index reflects the broader trend of productivity growth in the U.S. economy that has driven prices lower on goods while allowing prices for services to rise modestly.

212

The Christmas Price Index reflects the changing economic mix in the U.S. away from manufacturing to a more service based economy.

130

What's interesting now is we're seeing a period where dividends are growing faster then earnings.

128

Not as much is going to change as people might think.

127

While today's news is very positive, I think the market is likely to remain caught between very good economic data and the worry that things aren't going to get any better from here. I would expect us to continue being pulled back and forth in this trading range we've been in for most of 2004.

124

An investment in the true cost of Christmas would have yielded a better return than the stock market over the past year. However, the true cost of Christmas hedge fund has yet to be created.

116

By the fourth quarter, we'll have better clarity on the presidential election, we'll know more about interest rates, about how the transition of power in Iraq has played out, and hopefully, oil prices will be under control.

112