Business and Finance
THE TREASURY unveiled plans to slash its sales of 30-year bonds and to stop selling seven-year notes, in a bid to cut costs. The government will instead sell more debt with maturities of three years or less, which carries lower interest rates. Long-term prices edged up on the news, while prices of shorter-term issues fell slightly. ---</br></br>The economy improved somewhat in late March and last month after bad weather knocked it off track, a Fed survey suggested, in contrast with recent signs of a stalling recovery. But the modest rise in economic activity still isn't creating many jobs.</br></br>Clinton's business tax proposals attracted criticism at a House hearing. The Ways and Means panel is expected to alter some of the provisions. The lawmakers also predict they will kill the proposed investment credit. ---</br></br>Home prices climbed 5.1% in the first quarter in U.S. metro areas, powered by strong demand in the Midwest and parts of the South and West. But housing prices continued to erode in California and in the Northeast. ---</br></br>Honda is adopting a sales incentive program that will give dealers as much as $1,000 for each car they sell. The move comes amid a 14.5% slide in Honda's U.S. sales so far this year. ---