Moreover, while the economy continues to be in a fragile state, attention should be paid to the growing risks of a negative impact on the economy induced by developments in foreign and domestic capital markets via corporate and household confidence. With regard to prices, import prices are declining mainly reflecting the softening of international commodity prices.
In particular, the share of families with incomes below $ fell from 41% in 1995 to 37% in 1998, and more families within that lower-income group reported that they had a checking account. Moreover, home-ownership rates among minorities have risen.