The latest on the economy, housing and retail
by Annie Baxter, Minnesota Public Radio,Tom Crann, Minnesota Public Radio
St. Paul, Minn. — This past week was filled with a lot of confusing signs about the direction in which the economy is headed.
The National Retail Federation said today that retail holiday sales, excluding autos, gas, and restaurants, were nearly 6 percent higher than last year, a bigger bump than expected.
On the other hand, we learned that Minnesota's housing picture in 2010 was the worst it's been in a decade, with the $8,000 tax credit apparently eating up most sales early in the year and leaving remaining months barren.
Reporter Annie Baxter joined All Things Considered host Tom Crann to talk about the disconnect between the various economic signs.
Broadcast Dates
Annie Baxter
• ReporterAnnie Baxter started her radio trajectory answering the phones at a pledge drive at KQED, San Francisco's NPR member station, and managed to wriggle her way into an internship soon thereafter.
Tom Crann
• Host, All Things ConsideredTom Crann is the host of All Things Considered for MPR News.
