星期四关于美国经济情况的消息众说纷纭。有些显示美国无法偿还房债的人数达到历史新高，就业市场也出现更多问题。另一些报告则显示了逐渐好转的经济状况。
一个业内协会说，有超过9%的房贷拖欠至少一个月的还款。另外一些衡量房贷问题的指标也冲至历史新高。另一项报告显示，上个星期，有更多的美国人申请了失业救济金。劳工部官员表示，新近失业的人数上升了1万5千人。
但是与此同时，一个私人调查公司的报告显示，美国经济将会在今后的6至9个月内持续好转。7月份的经济领先指标有所上升。这已经是连续第4个月的增长。
A mixed bag of economic news Thursday shows a record number of U.S. homeowners having problems repaying their mortgage loans and more troubles in the job market. At the same time, other studies show an improving economy.
An industry group (the American Bankers Association) says more than nine percent of home loans are one month or more behind in their payments. Other measures of housing problems also hit record highs.A separate report showed more U.S. workers applied for unemployment compensation last week. Labor Department officials say the number of newly laid-off workers rose by 15,000 (to a total of 576,000).
But a private research group (The Conference Board) says the U.S. economy will continue to improve in the next six to nine months. Its index of leading indicators rose (by six-tenths of a percentage point to a reading of ) in July. It was the fourth month in a row the index improved.