Bush says US economy getting stronger

US President George W

US President George W. Bush said today the US economy was showing signs of getting stronger following the shock of the stock market decline, recession, corporate scandals and terror attacks.

"Our economy is showing signs of broad and gathering strength. America is starting to add new jobs, retail sales are strong and business profits are increasing," Mr Bush told a news conference in the Rose Garden.

Other positive signs included a surge in housing construction, an improvement in the stock market and a rise in manufacturing production, he added.