Reports show mixed economic news for U.S., Canada

(March 9, 2012) -- "Indications of strengthening labor markets and rising auto sales are consistent with our forecast for continued growth in consumer spending and, as is our expectation, at least a partial rebound of the fourth quarter’s outsized decline in government defence spending sets the stage for the United States economy to expand by an annualized 2.4 percent in the first quarter of 2012," said Jeffries.