HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20060203/ts_csm/apocket \

Economists aren't expecting a recession. But since consumers account for more than two-thirds of the nation's economic output, the health of American wage earners is a central question mark hanging over this year's economy.
Other parts of the economy may help pick up the slack. With the world economy expanding, exports should contribute solidly to gross domestic product (
GDP' name=c1>SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3>
GDP). And many economists expect to see businesses invest more of their record profits in new equipment and facilities.


**THOSE record profits have instead been used to buyback stock