Southland

Economic Relief?: A significant national event looms this week: the meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Federal Reserve Board’s policy-setting arm will decide whether to cut interest rates to boost the sagging economy. If it does, that could help the Southland’s struggling housing industry and other sectors whose fortunes can be boosted by lower interest rates. Analysts are worried that Southern California’s economic recovery could stall if national growth continues to slow.