NATION

NATION
Freddie Mac reportsa drop in interest rates
WASHINGTON -- Interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 5.93 percent for the week ending Dec. 27, down from 6.03 percent in the previous week, Freddie Mac reported Thursday in its weekly nationwide survey of mortgage rates.
This week's rate was the lowest since the mortgage giant began tracking 30-year mortgage rates in 1971.
Census Bureau sendssurveys to businesses
The U.S. Census Bureau is sending questionnaires to more than 5 million businesses this month for its 2002 Economic Census, a survey performed every five years to develop a comprehensive portrait of the American economy. Forms are due Feb. 12.
Vindicator staff and wire reports