Business news for Mon, 31 Dec 2007 & with words economic+growth. 3 news.

AFP - US stocks ended a tumultuous 2007 with a whimper Monday, retreating in the face of a new year fraught with worries about economic growth, a housing meltdown and tight credit.

The Bank of Japan is considering slashing the nation's economic growth forecast for the fiscal year to March to as low as 1.3 percent from its current 1.8 percent, the Mainichi Shimbun reported Sunday.

The film industry was the brightest spot in economic development in 2007, say state experts, and despite layoffs at Intel and the national labs, New Mexico continues to have low unemployment and healthy growth.