The US economy grew at a 1.1 per cent annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2005, much slower than anticipated, the Commerce Department said Friday.

Higher oil prices and interest rates, alongside a cooling housing market, are combining to weaken consumer spending, which drove the U.S. economy's rebound from the 2001 recession and supported global growth as Europe and Japan faltered.

Google Inc. is rebuffing the Bush administration's demand for a peek at what millions of people have been looking up on the Internet's leading search engine -- a request that underscores the potential for online databases to become tools for government surveillance.

The number of U.S. businesses owned by women increased 20 percent, about twice the national average for all companies, the U.S. Census Bureau said. Woman owned some 6.5 million business in the United States and the companies generated more than $940 billion in revenue.

Shares of the Mexican-food chain became a hot tamale Thursday on Wall Street when they more than doubled in their first day of trading, gaining $22 to $44. Chipotle is an early sign investors might have shaken off at least part of their IPO reluctance since the dot-com boom.

Among Hispanics, Toyota is the No. 1 selling brand and Camry is the No.3 selling model, she said. Toyota, wanting to maintain those numbers, paid around $2.5 million for the 30-second spot.

NALEO Board of Directors opposes confirmation of Judge Samuel L. Alito. Executive committee members determine his confirmation could be harmful to Hispanic political participation.

While the U.S. median age continues to rise, from 35.3 years in 2000, the median age of Hispanics remains the lowest of all groups. Demographers predict faster growth among young Hispanics than among other young ethnic groups for the next decade.

More than 20 percent of Cubans are 65 or older, while a scant 4 percent of Mexicans are in that age bracket. On the other hand, 37 percent of Mexicans and 31 percent of Puerto Ricans are younger than 18.

Hispanic ad spending growth slowed significantly this year, after peaking in 2003.