Before the war, consumers were doing OK, but the corporate sector didn't want to get going. We're back to the same environment. You see it in surveys of CEOs -- they just aren't convinced that now's the time to start expanding their business. |
But the obvious effect is on utility consumption, which will affect industrial output in the economy. People consume more electricity, that places more demand on natural gas, coal, power, and electrical systems. |
By talking about interest rates rising again, you can precipitate them rising too early in a recovery -- that's why he shouldn't be talking about it. |
Clearly the economy still has plenty of momentum with a little hint of inflation risk in the background. |
Clearly the new focus of Fed attention is the stock market, ... The Fed is not focused on many of the indicators equity analysts emphasize. Instead, the Fed's focus is on aggregate wealth creation in the market. |
Clearly the new focus of Fed attention is the stock market. The Fed is not focused on many of the indicators equity analysts emphasize. Instead, the Fed's focus is on aggregate wealth creation in the market. |
Clearly, Corporate America is still in hunker-down mode, reluctant to increase budgets for equipment and slow about increasing employment, ... That puts a weight around the neck of the recovery and keeps it at a moderate pace. |
Clearly, Corporate America is still in hunker-down mode, reluctant to increase budgets for equipment and slow about increasing employment. That puts a weight around the neck of the recovery and keeps it at a moderate pace. |
Coming after the energy shocks and Katrina, it's a remarkable spring-back. The economy seems to have an underlying resilience. |
Companies are paying more compensation and getting less productivity growth. |
Companies have been able to maintain incredible productivity growth for a low-growth economy. It does look like firms are finding ways to use technology and make do with fewer workers. |
corporate America in a very conservative mode, cutting costs, trying to rebuild profits -- not in the mood to hire or expand their businesses. |
Even in a healthy economy, you have layoffs, ... The Challenger number is more useful as a story telling device than an indicator. |
Even in a healthy economy, you have layoffs. The Challenger number is more useful as a story telling device than an indicator. |
Even with a positive outcome in the war, the economy is going to have lost a lot of momentum by the time it's over. We're not going to see a few weeks of weak data -- we'll see a few months of weak data. |