CANCUN, Mexico (AP) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says he is cautiously optimistic the sluggish U.S. economy could pick up speed by the end of 2008.
In an interview Tuesday with the Televisa television network, Paulson says he hopes to see the majority of declining housing prices even out by then, although he warned oil prices threaten to prolong hard times.
Paulson says the long-term fundamentals of the U.S. economy remain strong and on par with other developed economies.
Paulson is attending a meeting of ministers from Latin American and the Caribbean.
