6B
Tuesday, April 4, 1995
---
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Economy at a slowdown
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Americans' incomes and spending are not rising as rapidly as they had been, the latest sign the economy is slowing to a pace that can be maintained with low inflation.
Analysts say there is widespread evidence of a slowdown in response to higher interest rates. But some economists are skeptical, suggesting the easing is only a pause.
The Commerce Department reported yesterday that spending climbed a mere 0.1 percent in February, the smallest gain in nearly a year.
The department also said that incomes rose less rapidly in January than previously reported. The January increase was revised down to 0.7 percent from 0.9 percent.
The pickup in personal income was larger, 0.5 percent, but still the weakest since earnings were unchanged in November.
"The figures tend to reinforce the view that growth is slowing in 1995. Almost every report has come in on the soft side," said economist Mark Vitner of First Union Corp. in Charlotte, N.C.
But he said there could be a rebound later this year.
"We think a pickup in consumer confidence will mean a turnaround in home and car sales in April and May," he said.
Meanwhile, the Clinton administration took steps to halt the decline of the dollar by buying the currency on the open market for the first time in a month. But the dollar hit another record low against the Japanese yen.
Dow Jones industrial average up about five points by midafternoon.
"We may not have the pedal to the metal anymore in terms of economic expansion, but we're not hitting the brakes either," said Barry Rogstad, president of the American Business Conference. Executives of midsize companies surveyed by the group predicted steady growth and higher investment in the second quarter of this year.
In another development, the National Association of Purchasing Management said its closely watched index showed manufacturing expanded in March at a slower pace.
"We may not have the pedal to the metal anymore in terms of economic expansion, but we're not hitting the brakes either."
The Commerce Department said February's increase in spending was the smallest since outlays declined 0.3 percent in April 1994. But the government revised upward its spending
Financial markets rose modestly, with the
Barry Rogstad President of the American Business Convergence
figure for January to 0.7 percent from an earlier estimate of 0.4 percent.
Consumer spending representing two-thirds of the nation's economic activity, has been a major force behind the four-year-old economic recovery. Outlays for big-ticket durable goods such as cars and appliances declined 0.6 percent in February and spending on non-durable goods such as food and fuel fell 0.5
percent. Spending on services rose 0.6 percent.
Disposable income — income after taxes — climbed 0.5 percent in February after gaining 0.6 percent the previous month.
February's income gain was due to bonus payments to auto workers and higher farm subsidies, the Commerce Department said.
Private wages and salaries, the most closely watched component of income, increased less than half as rapidly in February as January
The combination of incomes and spending meant that Americans' savings rate — savings as a percentage of disposable income — climbed to 4.9 percent in February from 4.6 percent the previous month. The savings rate is the highest in nearly two years.
Aid workers still puzzled by mass exodus in Burundi
30,000 remain in makeshift camp near Tanzania
The Associated Press
BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Suddenly, without warning and without explanation, tens of thousands of Rwandan refugees picked up their meager belongings and calmly set off for Tanzania.
There was no attack to trigger last week's sudden exodus of the 40,000 people in the Magara refugee camp. And there was no panic in their flight. The Rwandans waited patiently for their regular distribution of two weeks' worth of food and then set off for Tanzania.
About 10,000 other refugees from the Ruvumu and Kibei camps along the route joined the march as it passed by — but only Magara was emptied. Most of the Rwandans at Ruvumu and Kibei just watched the ragged parade roll by.
International aid workers managed to halt the procession Friday after Tanzania closed its border. But days later, they still don't know exactly what prompted the entire population of one camp to break for the border.
"To me there is something very strange about it," Frances Turner, the head of the UNICEF mission in Burundi, said yesterday. "The real reason they all got up to leave is not really clear."
the inexplicable flight reflects how difficult it is to cope with the fears of
people in an area torn by the same ethnic conflict that drove them from their homes in the first place.
There had been an attack by unknown assailants earlier in the week that killed 12 refugees and wounded 22 at the Majuri refugee camp northwest of Magara, closer to the Rwandan border. But there had been no violence at Magara.
"Rumors are stronger than fact in this country. I am constantly astonished at the power of rumors in this country." CARE spokesman Mark Richardson said.
He said there was a rumor that Tutsis in the nearby town of Ngozi would attack the refugees at Magara.
There have been similar rumors before, but shooting in Ngozi yesterday may have added credibility to the rumors, said Paul Stromberg, the spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
Since the refugees fled to Burundi nearly a year ago, tensions have been high between the Rwandan Hutus and the many Burundian Tutsis who live nearby.
"The assumption is all these people are killers, that they are Hutu who killed Tutsis in Rwanda and had to flee," said Nicolas Stein, a field engineer with CARE.
But unlike Rwandan refugee camps in Zaire and Tanzania, those in Burundi are not controlled by former Hutu militiamen and soldiers. It does not appear there are extremists in the camps in Burundi capable of commanding a whole camp to move.
"We have never had any problems with
militias or former soldiers. Burundi is the last country they would come to," said Stein, who has also worked in the camps in Zaire.
"The people in the camps here are probably the most blameless of the refugees," Turner said.
Rwandan Hutu militiamen would avoid Burundi, aid workers said, because the army here is almost entirely made up of Tutsis who know the extremists were behind the slaughter of at least 500,000 people, mostly Tutsis, last year in Rwanda.
"When a whole camp picks up its things and leaves, but does not flee in a panic, it is very strange and appears to be organized." Turner said.
But Stromberg said the UNHCR does not believe the exodus was planned by the refugee leaders. He said it seemed to be more a function of crowd psychology.
"We certainly can't speak of manipulation. It seemed to be a groundswell," Stromberg said.
A few people decided to leave, others joined and the movement kept growing.
"Beyond a certain point, nobody will stay," he said.
The refugees were methodical in their departure. They waited for their food. They took down and carried away all the plastic sheeting used to build their huts, the latrine walls and other structures.
The refugees have agreed to return to Magarib, but the Burundian government has blocked the move. About 10,000 have gone to other camps, but nearly 30,000 remain camped at a temporary site along the route to Tanzania.
The Etc. Shop REVO Sunglasses
928 Mass.
Downtown
Because stuff $ ^{*} $ happens.
*Hey this is corporate America. We have to keep it clean.
It's everywhere you want to be. $ ^{ \textcircled{*} } $
Personal
120 Announcements
130 Entertainment
140 Lost and Found
100s
Announcements
105 Personal
110 Business
Personal
120 Announcements
130 Entertainment
140 Entertainment
Classified Directory
200s
23C Typing Services
200s Employment
205 Help Wanted
225 Professional
Classified Policy
Our readers are hereby informed that all jobs
are being advertised in this newspaper are on an
annual basis.
The Kansan will not knowingly accept any advertisement for housing or employment that discriminates against any person or group of persons based on gender, age, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, race. The Kansan will not knowingly accept advertising that is violation of University of Kansas regulation or a law.
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 which makes it legal to advertise 'any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national status or national origin; an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.'
100s Announcements
105 Personals
APATHY GOT YOU DOWN??
Have we got an idea for you! The REAL coalition is the first truly representative Student Senate Coalition in over a decade. Check us out at Wescoe Union on campaign tables, and please vote-REAL.
Coming to a theater near you THE MASKED MENAGER
LesBIG(GayS-OK offers individual peer counseling to people who are lesbian, bisexual, gay, or unsure. Please call KU Info at 864-3506 or Head Quarters at 861-2435 for more.
Trying to locate wife of KU dean. Her malen
Chase, Chase. Please call Mike at 818-380
ext. 392. ext. 322.
110 Bus. Personals
STERLING SILVER JEWELRY
Hoops, navel rings with charms, toe rings,
body piercing rings and more!
The Etc. Shop 928 Mass.
120 Announcements
CRITICAL MASS-BICYCLE RALLY FOR safe streets & clean air. Today, April 4: 4:30 pm at South Park.
T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST. The Bottleneck is looking for a new light v衣 t-shirt design. Prize will be free admittance for 1 yr. Send images, slogans, logos, & designs to the Bottleneck 737 New York office. Call us at address, name, address, & phone number. Must be 18 yrs old to redeem prize. Deadline April 13.
Hours
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
864-9500
340 Auto Sales
360 Miscellaneous
370 Want to Buy
300s
Merchandise
-Kansan Classified: 864-4358
400s Real Estate
405 Real Estate
430 Roommate
Wanted
900,000 GRANTS AVAILABLE.
18002432435
Goy, lesbian, bisexual, or unsure? LeBiGaySy OK offers a confidential support group Weekdays at 7:00 p.m. Call KU Info at 843-356 or Headquarters at 841-2345 for location.
NO REPAYMENTS, EVER.
QUALIFY
IMMEDIATELY.
CASH FOR COLLEGE
130 Entertainment
Now Open!
FREE PARTY ROOM FOR 28-206 AVAILABLE
AT JOHNNY'S TAVERNICK B48-0377
M-F 3-9
Set 12.0
M-F 3-9
Sat 12-9
Sun 1-9
140 Lost & Found
Found: Gold locket with unicorn on front. Found in parking lot between Malcolm and Military Science building. Rocked 3006 Mallot to claim.
LOST: Your student health insurance. FOUND: Temporary coverage 1-6 month plans, monthly pay available. CALL 842-7625
200s Employment
205 Help Wanted
$ \textcircled{c} $Visa U.S.A. Inc. 1995
SUMMER JOBS!
Earn $5-$8 an hour painting houses this summer.
Earn $8-$12 an hour painting houses this summer.
Earn $12-$16 an hour painting houses this summer.
$$\textcircled{1}$$$Barn Cash $\textcircled{2}$$KU Concessions hiring cashiers/clerks to work Day on the Hill Sunday, April 30 1995, 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m, $4.25 per hour in paid on Monday following employment. Previous cashier/money handling, food service experience preferred. Must be able to stand for long periods and be able lift up to 30 pounds. Contact Office Lines: 5 Kansas University / personnel Office Lines: 5 Kansas University.
AEROBIC INSTRUCTOR WANTED!
certification required. Call man ager at 835-0168