71. A strong economy and a construction boom have created a nationwide shortage of building materials and construction crews. 72. A strong economy and rising rates would make Japanese bonds and other assets attractive to foreign investors, who need yen to purchase them. 73. A strong economy and the inflation that usually accompanies it erodes the value of long-term securities like bonds. 74. A strong economy and tight labor market may prompt the Federal Reserve to raise bank lending rates by summer, according to investors and financial market indicators. 75. A strong economy can lead to inflation, which eats into the value of fixed-income securities. 76. A strong economy can translate into higher sales and profits in coming months. 77. A strong economy has undoubtedly lifted many families, but not nearly as many as the official statistics suggest. 78. A strong economy is spurring companies to add more workers and lease more space to meet increased demand for goods and services. 79. A strong economy is usually positive for stocks, because growth is good for corporate earnings. 80. A strong U.S. economy could push inventories lower after the maintenance period ends, analysts said. |