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The article notes that new figures indicate that China is the world's fourth-largest economy, following the announcement that its economy is considerably bigger than previously estimated. Economists and experts are rethinking their assessment of China's rise and its international role. The new figures offer a more expansive view of economic activity. Some say that China could overtake the U.S. by 2035. China revised its economic data after a nationwide census uncovered billions of dollars in hidden economic output in 2004. China's gross domestic product for 2004 is estimated at nearly two trillion dollars.

Examines the economic indicators and how they can be perceived as good or bad news for the economic condition of the United States. Comments from J. B. Mitchell, a professor of management and public policy at the University of California at Los Angeles regarding the governmental reports and their uselessness in forecasting economic prospects; Statistics from the Bureau of Labor indicating a decrease in payrolls yet an increase in the total number of employed people, suggesting they predict entirely different forecasts for the economy; Comments from Thomas J. Nardone, who supervises the survey of households as chief of the Bureau of Labor's division of labor force statistics.

Examines the response of different central banks on the rising inflation. Detection of different response of several central banks on the issue; Move of the European Central Bank to keep short-term interest rates steady; Decision of the Bank of England to lower interest rates; Ability of the Federal Reserve bank to put itself in a better inflation-fighting position without damaging the economy.

Reports on the possible effects of the recent pickup of the economy in the U.S. Factors that made short-term interest inflate; Implication of the increase ion short-term and long-term interest rates; Signs that for the readiness of the economy to grow faster.

Reports on the unemployment rates in the United States as of August 2, 2003. Consideration of the growth in business confidence; Lack of improvement in the labor market; Taxation policies; Impact of low interest rates and home refinancing activity; How college graduates have experienced trouble finding jobs.

Examines economic indicators in the U.S., in particular the business sector. Need for business confidence in order for companies to grow; Implications of changes in banks' commercial lending; Views of executives, including Todd C. Moules of National City Corporation; Industrial production; Housing starts; Commercial banking outlook; Commercial and industrial loans; Reasons why business has been slow to recover.

Discusses the effects of the U.S. economy on long-term interest rates as of May 31, 2003. Decrease in the value of the dollar; How the U.S. Federal Reserve will not raise short-term interest rates; Views from Mark Gertler, the chairman of the economics department at New York University; Consideration of investor confidence; Popularity of refinancing; How stocks are becoming more popular than bonds.

Reports that the U.S. economy expanded in the first quarter 2003. How some forecasters saw encouraging signs; Suggestion that some leading indicators of economic activity are offering hope for the future; How labor market conditions, investment by the private sector and other factors have hindered growth; Outlook for the government's push for new tax cuts; Investment in housing; Decline in imports; Conditions in financial markets.

Focuses on a year-long decline in the dollar which is exacerbated by economic and political conditions as of April 3, 2003. Impact of news from the Iraqi War on the value of the exchange rate for the dollar; Possibility that it may decline further because of the military buildup in the Persian Gulf region and fears of similar conflicts to follow; Impact of exports for U.S. companies; Outlook.

Discusses the increase in U.S. unemployment. Decrease in manufacturing positions that affected the unemployment rate; Expectation that the unemployment rate would not fall as much as it did; Hope that the U.S. economy will improve in 2003; Impact that unemployment has on black and teenage workers; Hope that the replacements for U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill and director of the National Economic Council Lawrence B. Lindsey will extend the length of time someone can collect unemployment benefits.

Reports that productivity, the amount of goods and services Americans produced in each hour they worked, grew rapidly in the third quarter 2002, according to the U.S. Labor Department. Significance of the gain; Why economists say there may not be a quick upturn in the weak economy; Comparison with the second quarter; The concept of doing more with less in industry; How trends in inflation and executive pay may have shifted the dynamics of hiring and firing; Long-term outlook.

Reports that the United States economy grew at a 3.1% rate in the third quarter, 2002. Possibility that this growth may slow by the end of 2002; Effect of consumer spending on this growth; Significance of this growth rate, which was not as high as was expected.

Reports that the U.S. unemployment rate fell in May 2002, although widespread hiring is not expected soon. Implications of the Labor Department's report; Discussion of the need for businesses to start investing; Rise in the number of long-term unemployed; Encouraging economic indicators; Stock market performance; Risks that are affecting business confidence, including terrorist threats.

Discusses the economic recovery in the United States, as of March 2002. Reports from the Commerce Department and the Federal Reserve Board that indicate more rapid improvement than many economists had forecast; Growth in manufacturing; Revision of growth estimate for gross domestic product; Indication that labor markets may improve; Role of rising productivity in economic recovery.

Focuses on the United States economy and growing evidence that the recession could be near an end. Number of job losses in January 2002; Reports which indicate that the economy remains weak, despite signs of improvement; Consumer confidence; Views of economists; Comments of U.S. President George W. Bush; Overview of economic conditions.

Reports that the unemployment rate in the United States continued to rise during December 2001, although there were fewer job losses than in preceding months. View of some economists that the job market might be stabilizing after severe cutbacks caused by the terrorist attacks and the recession; Expectation of most experts that unemployment will contine to rise in the first half of 2002; Highlights of statistics released by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Reports on positive reports concerning economic recovery in the United States as of winter 2001. Figures on home sales, consumer confidence, sales of durable goods and unemployment claims; Warning of economists that recovery is expected to be slow in 2002; Suggestion that consumers have recovered from the September 11 terrorist attacks quicker than expected.

Discusses the outlook for United States economic recovery as of December, 2001. How the economy has failed to respond as strongly as expected to positive signs, such as interest rate cuts and falling oil prices; Impact of a deterioration of the federal budget outlook due to increased spending on security and the war in Afghanistan; Decision of lenders to tighten credit.