Brian Bethune Solid Quotations

Further gains in employment combined with better levels for consumer confidence overall are setting the stage for very solid consumption gains in the first quarter of 2006.

There are reports of solid underlying demand for 30-year bonds from pension funds and insurance companies.

We'll have very solid overall job gains that will punctuate the start of more normal activity in terms of employment,

Activity in the manufacturing sector picked up early in the second quarter, in line with strong underlying fundamentals in the economy and stronger overseas demand. We can look forward to solid overall output growth in the second quarter of 2006.

The major markets overseas - Europe, Japan and Asia - have fairly solid underlying momentum. Japan is certainly improving and Europe is more like the Queen Elizabeth slowly turning around.

The manufacturing sector continues to steam-roll ahead. The stage is set for solid growth in the second quarter.