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Text Box: Outlook for 2004 GDP with growth of 4% The GDP growth forecasts seem solid and may even be a bit on the low side by year end. Outlook for a 10% + 2004 housing median price increase is being driven up by short supply, and is now expected to be equal to 2003 increases that were 20%+ nationally. . Record high gas prices have not yet dented consumer spending. Instead it seems to have created “more efficient shoppers” who make fewer excursions, closer to home, order more on line, and now spend more per trip. Consume price index edged up from 93.2 to 93.9 just slightly below the 94 that analysts expected. Employment continues to show sustained improvement and productivity continues to hold strong. “The economy for 2004 represents a full plate of strong investment opportunities...”

Text Box: This article was another I thought you might enjoy. It really “hits the nail on the head” as to the real dilemma comparing the growth of personal wealth of the American workers (a good problem) and how wealth is outpacing the returns delivered by our more traditional investment vehicles - i.e. equities. The significance is understanding the amount of savings and return on our investments is required to deliver established life style spending habits (personal budget) in retirement is an “eye opener”. There is no solution proposed except continuing to be a productive wage earner for a longer time than anticipated. But to me it speaks to the importance of looking at your ability to generate long term wealth through your investment strategies such as real property investing as compared to the more common equity options used for retirement investing. Gary

Gary’s IRA Real Estate

Text Box: Laguna IRA Real Estate Investments P.O. Box 1512 Laguna Beach Ca. 92651-1512

Gary’s Notes: re: “Life of Riley index” (continued)