Tuesday, May 22, 2012

A Modestly Bright Future


The National Association of Business Economists - one of the most respected economic groups around - has just released its forecast for the American economy over the next 12 months. And mostly, what they're expecting is more of the same. The 54 economists surveyed expect conditions to improve - but very gradually - over the next year.

For instance, their anticipated monthly addition to the employment rolls average 188,000 for the next 12 months; that's up from the average of 134,500 over the past two months. That would bring the unemployment rate down but only slightly, to 8.0 percent at the end of this year and 7.5 percent by the end of 2013. It's at 8.1 percent now.

Meanwhile, the best news in the survey is that housing starts are projected to grow by 18 percent this year. Consumer spending is also expected grow, at a rate of 2.2 percent for the remainder of the year. 


















































































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