Some economists say the United States is not in a recession, but don’t tell that to the majority of American consumers.

Which of the country’s home sellers and buyers most stand to gain from the move to help the struggling mortgage industry?

Stocks gained early Wednesday, as investors welcomed Morgan Stanley’s earnings, Visa’s big IPO and news that regulators will allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy more home loans.

These 10 spots offer the nation’s best values on distressed properties.

Stocks rose at the open Tuesday as investors welcomed better-than-expected earnings from Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers and geared up for an expected interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve later in the day.

U.S. stocks took a drubbing at Monday’s open as the Bear Stearns buyout and the Federal Reserve’s move to ease the credit crunch haunted investors.

The analysts have been preparing us for months. This quarter’s Wall Street bank earnings are going to be bad — real bad.

OK, so maybe not all your tax rebate, but a big chunk of it.

From Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., to Closter, N.J., there are plenty of luxury homes on the market ripe for the picking.