US Treasury bonds are slightly better and mortgage bonds are flat in early morning trading.  Stocks are down slightly in response to news that Germany's economy contracted slightly for the 4th Qtr of 2011.   The Wall Street Journal reported today that 48 of 50 economists it polled believe that the euro zone is in a recession (generally considered 2 contractionary quarters in a row) now or that one is imminent, but the majority of those who predict a recession in Europe expect it to last less than a year.