BEN-NIGN: Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke was optimistic in an interview last Sunday on “60 Minutes.” He said the recession “probably” will end this year and a recovery taking root next year if the government succeeds in shoring up the banking system, getting the banks to lend more freely, and getting the financial markets to work more normally. That’s encouraging because the government is capable of accomplishing Bernanke’s goals. “We’ve seen some progress in the financial markets, absolutely,” said the Fed chairman. “But until we get that stabilized and inflation leading to a 21.5% working normally, we’re not going to see recovery.” He went on to explain, “We do have a plan. We’re working on it and I do think we will get it stabilized. And we’ll see the recession coming to an end probably this year.” Amen.

GOOD SIGN: Here’s another morsel of good news. Housing construction posted a surprisingly large increase in February, bolstered by strength in all parts of the country except the West. The Commerce Department reported that construction of new homes and apartments in February jumped 22.2% over January, bringing total activity to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 583,000 units. Now, here’s what perplexes me: They say there is an inventory of three million foreclosed homes lying fallow; many being auctioned for a fraction of their value. So, why build more? Many of the foreclosed units are new, never lived-in and would be less costly to modify. Just a random thought.

IN LINE: Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett in his annual letter to shareholders also sprinkled some optimism around as he reminded them that the country has “faced far worse travails in the past.” Among those: two great wars, a dozen or so panics and recessions; virulent inflation leading to a 21.5% prime rate in 1980, and the Great Depression, when unemployment was between 15% and 25% for several years. “America has had no shortage of challenges,” he writes, and then points out that that the country has overcome all of them. He notes that the standard of living for Americans improved nearly seven-fold during the 1900s, with the Dow Jones Industrials rising from 66 to 11,497. Relative to other periods of human history, this is highly significant. “Though the path has not been smooth, our economic system has worked extraordinarily well over time. It has unleashed human potential as no other system has, and will continue to do so. America’s best days lie ahead.” Bernanke and Buffett.

TRIBUTE: Howard Brodsky and the late Alan Greenberg, co-founders of CCA Global Partners, will be inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in a formal ceremony on May 6 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Now one of the largest cooperatives in the country, CCA has 14 independent businesses in four countries and more than 3,600 locations producing $10 billion in aggregate annual sales. The nominating committee called Brodsky and Greenberg “visionaries, leaders and teachers.”

SNAPSHOT: This quick mini-survey by the National Association of Wholesale Distributors shows how cool this industry is getting. “If you had to pick one, which technology would you most like to see available for use during flights?” Internet— 64.21%; None—21.25%; cell phones—14.09%, and other— .45%. “Are you on Facebook?” Yes—62.69%; No—36.57%. “Does knowing that a product is green make it more likely you will purchase it over one that is not green?” Yes— 46.88%; Once is a while, but not the majority of the time— 28.13%; No—25%. It appears that the green imperative has made an impact on the upper reaches of the business community, but among the rank and file more work needs to be done.