Recent economic reports indicate the nation has finally pulled itself out of a decade of doldrums.
In retrospect, it appears the recession ended in the first half of 1999, with industrial production picking up. Capital investment has turned visibly higher in recent months, paced by increased spending in information technology.
Many companies are now forecasting double-digit increases in pretax profits for the current business year to March on top of sizable profits the previous year. But when it comes to consumer sentiment worries remain.