October 9th, 2008 9:52 AM

Real GDP rose at an annual rate of 2.7% over the last five quarters, which is on trend, once a correction is made for the decline in the growth rate of the working-age population. Productivity growth remains rapid. Consumer installment borrowing, which represents most consumer nonmortgage borrowing, is up 5% year over year, and the interest rates on these loans are equal to, or below, the levels that prevailed over the last five years. Commercial and industrial loans are up 9% year over year. And to those with good credit histories, conforming mortgages are available at 30-year fixed rates of around 6%. That represents an inflation-adjusted mortgage rate that is low by historical standards. So the current financial crisis is not as deep or as broad as some have feared.

@ Wall Street Journal | Posted: 10/08/08 at 0320 EDST