Incomes, Housing Strong

WASHINGTON Americans were earning and spending more last month,but only at a moderately quicker pace after unusually sharp increasesin February. The housing industry grew sharply in March despiteclimbing interest rates.

"The latest set of data suggest that the economy is emergingfrom its winter hibernation, but at a much slower pace than thatwitnessed in the fourth quarter of last year," said economist JoseRasco of Merrill Lynch & Co.

The Commerce Department reported today that personal income rose0.6 percent in March and consumer spending nearly kept pace, rising0.4 percent. The department revised estimates upward for February asunusual factors sent incomes up …