Quick Overview

• U.S. Housing starts rose 0.8% MoM, but fell 28% YoY.
  

• U.S. Consumer prices rose 0.4% in January and 4.3% YoY.
  

• Canada's composite index of leading indicators rose 0.2%.
  

• The per-acre cost of fertilizer to produce corn has gone from $95 an acre to $130, says David Asbridge, a senior economist for Doane Advisory Services.
  

• India is likely to import 3.5 million tonnes pulses in FY09. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the main pulses producing states, have not received enough rainfall.