After recording a fairly strong increase in new issuance during 2000, the asset-backed securities market is expected to continue expanding at a modest clip in the new year, according to most industry observers. The key variable in 2001 market forecasts is the shape of the U.S. economy. According to the consensus view, a return to an "average" annual growth rate in gross domestic output of 2.6 percent in 2001 would not create any major impediments