Economic and financial indicators.

This article presents economic and financial indicators of Europe and the U.S., as of February 2003. America's industrial production rose in January by 0.7%. But other data suggest that consumers are stuttering as an engine of economic growth. Housing remains one of America's few sectors with strong growth. Sweden's economy is showing signs of weakness. Industrial production fell by 2.0% in the year to December. Unemployment rose to 5.1%in January, from 4.1%in December. Meanwhile, sluggish growth is taking its toll on Switzerland's consumers: retail sates fell by 2.8% in the year to December.