my candid conversation with charles evans about the feds' next move, raising interest rates and whether he is concerned about inflation. >>> the markets wrap up a blockbuster first quarter, but will the bull keep on running? where should you put your money now? >>> plus, don't look now but it's almost tax day. last-minute tips before you file. and what the irs is smiling and frowning on. "the wall street journal report" begins right now. >> this is america's number one financial news program, "the wall street journal report." now maria bartiromo. >> here is a look at what is making news as we head into a new week on wall street. shoppers got little rest during the month of march. same store sales showed a surprise increase of 1.7% increase last month. in spite of bad weather across the country and late easter shopping. analysts had expected a decline of 7/10 of a percent. the dow jones industrial average closed at the highest point in nearly three years on monday, was higher again midweek, but stocks fell on friday. >>> crude oil just keeps on rising. futures touching $111 a barrel on f

my guest next week chicago federal reserve with the charles evans. each week keep it right here where wall street meets main street. have a great week, everybody. i'll see you next weekend.

charles evans is the chief executive officer of the federal reserve bank of chicago.en doing for this issue. >> thank you. >> good morning. [applause] on behalf of the chicago federal reserve are want to say it is a pleasure to have you here at this event. given the economic difficulties we have recently faced, financial education and the ability to make good buy natural discussions have become increasingly important as -- to make good, financial discussions and decisions have been increasingly important to us. the federal reserve plays a role in helping to protect consumers. we insure the financial institutions provide essential information and prescribed format so the consumers are able to compare products. we will continue to work to protect consumers in this and a variety of other ways. however, regulation can only take as so far. -- can only take us so far. we have a number of strings we bring to this conversation on financial education. we strive to be recognized as a neutral party that is well- positioned to forge an leverage relationships across the private an

evan? >> it was a pretty good speech, and he made the point of this one-off, buone-time. i am not sure it is good policy but it was a good speech. >> charles? >> it was clearly laid, and surgeon, and the u.s., and i think half-hearted -- late, uncertain, and he was, and i think have parted. that is wide the war will become increasingly more unpopular. >> the president said that if we had not acted, the massacre would have given the thousands of additional refugees across libya's quarters, but enormous strains on the peaceful yet fragile transition in tunisia and egypt. political columnist roger simon it says that this is the new domino theory. >> obama was trying to make the case that it was not just humanitarian, it is also strategically important. the argument he made is the one you cited, and it is not at all convincing. egypt has 80 million people. it would not have destabilized it. he was reaching a, trying to find something so he could say "i sent people into battle on behalf of our national interest." it was purely a humanitarian intervention, but it was so late and half-hearted -- look, the rebels are fleeing east. they have lost a