It's always interesting to talk to retailers and manufacturers when their top executives have one ear tilted to hear what the National Bureau of Economic Research has to say about whether the country has entered a recession -- and, if so, when.

Paul Harrington, president and chief executive officer of Van Nuys-based Easton-Bell Sports, proved to be no exception. We talked by telephone a few weeks ago, after the company had released its third-quarter financials, but before the NBER ruled that a recession had begun late in 2007.

Easton-Bell reported a solid increase in revenue (from $188 million to $203 million) for the third quarter ended Sept. 27. Net income slid slightly to $6.6 million from $6.8 million during the same quarter a year ago.

"We're pleased with our results through the first nine months," Harrington said. "We've been able to grow our sales in all our major areas -- cycling, snow sports, hockey, football, and even hold our own in baseball, which has been soft." ......