By Brad Foss
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The economy is in recovery, a trio of reports released Monday suggested, with manufacturing activity and consumer spending on the rise and construction spending solid yet slightly lower.

High energy prices and slow job creation are areas of concern for economists, but overall, the experts remain upbeat about the nation's financial condition.

"I think we're actually in the early stages of an expansion," said Gary Thayer, chief economist at A.G. Edwards & Sons in St. Louis.

"It doesn't look like we're firing on all cylinders yet, and there are still some pockets of weakness," Thayer conceded. "But the economy as a whole is looking considerably better than it did at this time last year."

The nation's manufacturing sector grew for the ninth consecutive month in February, the Institute for Supply Management reported Monday, but the expansion was at a slightly slower pace than expected.

The Commerce Department, meanwhile, said consumer spending and disposable income increased in January, while construction spending dipped in January for the first time since May.

"Overall, the numbers are very positive," John Silvia, chief economist at Wachovia Corp. in Charlotte, N.C., said.