THE ECONOMY.(A)

Fed: mortgage credit tightening

Of the 79 banks that responded, 11.1% reported tighter home mortgage standards, up from 10% last quarter. The past two polls revealed the first signs of tighter mortgage credit "in over a decade," the Fed said. More banks also tightened up on commercial and industrial loans, citing economic uncertainty. Demand for business loans weakened.

U.S. leading index dips in week

The Economic Cycle Research Institute's economy gauge dipped to 119.0 from 119.3 last week as falling stock prices and higher initial jobless claims offset rising mortgage demand. But the index's growth rate rose to -1.0% from -1.8%, continuing a three-month uptrend.

** New York City's service sector grew in Jan. after a steep decline in Dec., said the National Association of Purchasing Management-New York. Its services gauge rose to 51.5 from 39.1 in Dec.

** John Snow, President Bush's nominee for treasury secretary, was confirmed by the Senate.

** Canada's economy grew 0.1% in Nov. vs. Oct.'s 0.3% as ...