Recent US data 'quite encouraging' - BoE George

Central bankers from the Group of 10 industrialized nations believe a pick-up in the U.S. economy during the second half of this year "remains the most likely outcome," Eddie George, current chairman and head of the Bank of England, said on Mar 12, 2001.

U.S. data released over the past couple of months, including fourth-quarter gross domestic product, employment and vehicle sales have been "quiet encouraging," he noted. The data suggest the slowdown was "less abrupt than might have been