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Recession Briefing 4.10

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

The economy appears to be leveling off, with retail sales slowing their decline, the stock market up, and credit markets loosening. But the recession’s not over yet… (AP)

Slowly but surely, the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act—better known as the economic stimulus package—is beginning to percolate nationwide, six weeks after President Obama signed the legislation.(Washington Post)

It’s a renter’s market around the country, which means landlords are getting more creative (and desperate) to hold down vacancies and prevent turnover. (BusinessWeek)

President Barack Obama yesterday touted the economic benefits of refinancing, but he should keep the 30-year mortgage on his Chicago spread, a broker says. (Chicago Tribune)

Home mortgage rates were up slightly this week, from 5.12 percent to 5.2 percent, after nearly a month of declines. (CNNMoney.com)

The Chinese government will limit the pay of senior executives at state-owned firms, including banks and insurance companies. (MarketWatch)

Goldman Sachs is considering a stock offering to help pay off its $10 billion TARP loan, taking advantage of the market surge. (WSJ)

Financially pressed people are representing themselves more and more in court, according to judges, lawyers and courthouse officials across the country.(NY Times)

The feds will make $2 billion available to states for child care programs for working families. (USA Today)

From Connecticut to California, city and country clubs are feeling the recession and are resorting to extraordinary steps to stay afloat. Some members gripe that the measures are at odds with their exclusivity. (WSJ)

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Tags: business, economy, Goldman Sachs, mortgages, obama, politics, real estate, stimulus, TARP, Wall Street