By Evelina M. Tainer, Chief Economist, Econoday
2/15/02

This week's set of economic indicators supports the view that the economy may be on the mend. Retail sales were stronger than expected and production barely inched down; new jobless claims suggest that the labor market may have seen its worst. It is important to keep in mind, however, that the state of the economy is still fragile and that the latest set of data doesn't necessarily signal a booming recovery. That would explain, along with corporate fundamentals, why the stock market is suffering a rocky comeback.