Remember the destruction Hurricane Katrina caused in year 2005? Gusty winds ushered in by isolated storms over the weekend reminded me of that fateful day our house crumbled onto the ground. Hurricane Katrina literally brought our house down thus acquiring was the aftermath of that disaster.
Whenever I read and hear thunderstorm or hurricane reports in the country or elsewhere, I get so affected as memories of that unfortunate event in our life resulting from Hurricane Katrina flash in my head again. The re construction services and emergency clean up services which our town availed from a renowned restoration company with expertise in , took about a year to finish. That was already quick if you would compare it to the work done by other restoration companies to neighboring cities.
Apart from removing our roof, Katrina wrecked the deck, wiped off our home’s interiors, and wiped out mom’s vast landscape which she toiled and took care of for years. We were literally left with nothing once the storm had gone away. We were demoralized but we had to remain strong and recondition ourselves so that we can easily recover from the pain and loss.
Aside from restoring the foundation of our home’s structure, the company that worked to restore our property also performed so that next time a foreboding comes forth, we’ll be ready to protect our home and ourselves.
Unlike hunger, education, unwanted pregnancy, AIDS, and other common problems of society, there is no way to stop the fury of nature. AIDS and unwanted pregnancy can be prevented if everybody would only practice safe sex. Hunger, on the other hand, can be considered a trivial concern if each and everybody would exercise sense of responsibility and accountability. Education should not be difficult if only parents were more responsible and concerned about the welfare of their children. Truth is, life shouldn’t be dealt with hardships or trials if only we know how to think before we act. Natural calamities, unfortunately, are beyond our control but we are also capable of preparing ahead of time. Many companies nowadays offer storm shelters so why not see which kind suits your home? If you can afford to invest in a car, computer stuff, designer outfits, there’s no doubting your capacity to spend for a storm shelter lest you experience how it is to live hell on earth.
The author is an expert writer that writes about .
Surviving the Downturn – advice for the small business.
Whether the recession is coming to the end or extending into 2010, it can feel hard for a small business.
What the sharp entrepreneur will do, though, is to turn the situation into an opportunity!
A recession is a good time to look at every aspect of your business and ask yourself a number of critical questions:
Q. Are you getting maximum benefit from your advertising?
Online adverts can cost a fraction of the traditional local newspaper display advert. Review your advertising spend and make sure you get the maximum “bang for your buck”.
Q. Are you still providing the same service or range of products you did when you first started?
Review your offering – stop doing those things which no-one has asked for in the last couple of years. Think about your competitors – what gives them an edge?
Q. Be honest – are your skills a little rusty? A bit traditional?
Most local colleges offer short courses which would help you sharpen up your act.
Q. Do you need to invest in new technology? It may seem crazy when things are tight but things are difficult for suppliers too so you may be able to cut a good deal!
Q. Are you making the most of local networks to get good deals and contracts for your business?
Make technology work for you by linking your website to websites covering your area (just like ActivFareham!)
Fareham has a great reputation for exploiting gaps in the market and new technology. Did you know that the Royal Albert Hall was made with bricks, known as Fareham Reds, made in the area with local clay? Henry Cort, one of the founding fathers of the iron industry, did much of his early work in Fareham. In modern times, the town has embraced modern technology and boasts many hi-tech IT businesses such as Novatech and many significant players in defence related industries, such as Eaton Aviation, BAE, VT Group. Such a thriving climate gives great opportunities for the small business.
Fareham has one of the most business friendly environments in the South East.
Key to this are the business parks which are such a feature of the area.
Whiteley – situated on the Fareham – Winchester border, the park is set in beautiful woodland. Its landscaped boulevards are home to many major corporations such as Zürich Insurance but there are plenty of serviced offices for the smaller business; Wallington – close to the heart of the town, and next to the M27 motorway; Palmerston Business Park – easy access to Fareham and Gosport; Speedfields – a major retail park including Asda, Wickes, Home Base and small industrial units; Kites Croft – a new development, close to the A27; The Tanneries – small units in historic Titchfield village; and Castle Trading Estate – in Portchester, close to the Portsmouth border and near Port Solent.
Whether your business supports the domestic or commercial market, Fareham has the right environment for you!
Activ Fareham is your complete online guide to Fareham and the surrounding areas, to find out more visit Article Source:
The growing ability of companies to capture and record the different behaviors of their potential customers is steady on the rise. These same businesses are beginning to study the world’s consumers a lot more in to better understand their buying habits.
Behavioral Targeting uses information collected on a person’s web browsing behavior. Certain activities include: the particular pages visited, performed searches, and how often an individual may stay on a web site. With behavioral targeting not only are you tracking users’ behaviors, but a company is meeting these potential customers in the places where they are more likely to make a purchase.
When behavioral targeting is utilized, there are several methods by which behavior is evaluated. Those methods include:
Repetitive Behavior – a type of behavior from which potential customers do over and over again; users accessing a page in a certain , repeatedly jumping to a site or at a particular time.
Sequential Behavior – a behavior that occurs when a user signs onto a site and then visits pages or performs actions in sequential manner.
Expected Behavior – what a business expects users to do on a given type of site.
In addition to the behaviors listed above, there are also many categories of behavior that are much more precise. CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company has included a brief list of some of the categories that can be monitored using behavioral targeting. They include:
Music lovers
Automobile purchasers
Hotel seekers
Expecting moms
Gamers
PDA users
Vacationers
Movie watchers
Luxury car seekers
Personal investors
Credit card shoppers
SUV researchers
Home buyers
About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.
For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at
About CODANK Charlotte Website Design and Markjeting Company
CODANK is a top rated Web Design and Internet Marketing firm located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to provide the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services.
Manufacturers of electric cars are in a rush to develop something that would compel the market into seriously considering the battery-ran automobile in lieu of the gasoline-fed ones. In fact, Tesla (a publicly-listed car manufacturer), has started producing a family car that would eventually replace sedans designed to run 300 miles without having to stop to re-charge its battery.
Initially called as “Model S”, the new Tesla “baby” is designed to accommodate seven passengers, or equivalent to one family. “Model S” however would only be available to the public in 2011.
Expensive, but wise
Articles posted in the internet however say that the new Tesla battery-ran car would not come in cheap as the unit alone would sound expensive. However, running on a battery-powered car for the use of an entire family for sometime, would eventually translate into economic savings.
The cost of running a battery-ran car is comparatively cheaper in the long run as the pump price of gasoline and diesel fuels appears on an upward trend. Estimates have it that a fully-charged electric car actually costs around five dollars.
What makes electric cars cost efficient is the current trend in the price of crude oil in the world market. Prices are soaring and supplies seemed getting limited as a result of the new trade policies of oil-exporting countries in the middle-east Asia.
Initial calculations show that a family running a battery-ran car can actually save some $ 15,000 per year as compared to using gasoline-fed sedans.
Slice of the market
There is however a brewing rivalry among other car manufacturers, which like Tesla, are also eyeing a share in what appears to be a viable market insofar as the automotive industry is concerned.
Although none of the potential rivals have started producing electric cars that would match that of Tesla”s, these entities, made public announcements on what they are actually working out — an electric car model that is cost efficient and runs on a maximum of 60 miles per hour.
What even makes it more promising that that it reaches the maximum speed in just five seconds and charging time for its battery would be fully completed in just ten minutes. From there, the car would be able to run for 200 miles. There is however no announcement as to how many passengers can actually fit in their version of the electric car.
The cost: Fifteen thousand pounds
Another car manufacturer, the world renowned Volvo, said that they intend to “revolutionize” electricity-powered vehicles.
According to Volvo, they are closing on to a battery-ran car that is capable of running 60 miles per hour at the maximum. Likewise, they claimed that their version of the electric car would peak its maximum speed in just ten seconds. As to how it would look like, Volvo said that it would be more of a futuristic car with flap up-doors and a transparent roof.
“Futuristic” as it is, it appears that Volvo’s version of the electric car would not be as spacious as Tesla is conceptualizing. Their version could actually just be a two seater.
It’s eco-friendly too
These ideas, although still not in the market, have been conceptualized and designed not just to beat the economic hardships, which include the soaring cost and availability of petroleum products but is also made to help save the environment. GP
Ruhfus Systemhydraulik GmbH are and specialise in heavy duty .
What do you think is the most effective today? Have you been asked this question? And were you able to give your honest answer? Let us not for get that even the smallest business, with the smallest capital, and the smallest return of investment still needs a working strategy of any kind in to push its brand and get a place for itself in the hearts and minds of people. So no matter how big or small your business may be, you need to define the reasons for your existence. There must be some good reasons that may come to your mind. It is not only to make money or earn for yourself the fame though many business people have these in mind. But people who are into business ventures must seek to find ways how to impact the world with all the goodness that their brand can offer.
Aside from digging deeper into your company’s reasons for business operations, you also need to define what kind of people or audience are you trying to win for your brand, product, or services. Are you focused on reaching out to the younger ones, or to the older generations? If you are trying to target the younger generations, what are they like? Do you have all the means to touch them and endear them to your brand? Do you think you be keep up with their demands? If you focused on providing for the needs of the older audience, what are they like? What are their needs? How can your brand or product meet their needs?
Getting from yourself honest answers to these questions are so crucial to developing the kind of strategy that can truly work out for the good of your business and for the benefit of all the people. After all, you need people to your products. They must always have a special part in all your plans because they are your market. So a wise business entrepreneur must posses a thorough knowledge of what and who his target audience are and seek to provide what they truly need. This is what we call .
We are obsessive about creating brands that evoke powerful emotional connections with customers, at defining differentiated and compelling market positions for ,Brand Agency,Brand Design,Graphic Design Melbourne,Corporate image
Every feel like if you want something done right you need to do it yourself? Well, that friend has never been more true. I used to reformat each contract for every that I put together. Thinking I was saving a lot of money because I didn’t have to go to a lawyer for every single seller financing contract I needed written. What I came to find in place of this method, which has worked much, much better is that contract wizard.
What is , and what does it even do?
The contract wizard is a just what it sounds like it is. It is a contract wizard. For those of you who still don’t know. It is a program that asks you a series of questions (all yes or no) and determines what type of contract you need. Because of the information you fill out before hand such as name, and a broad out line of the deal at hand. It will fill in all of that information into your contract! So you don’t have to worry about it being custom done. You know it is! So for your seller financing contracts, you may want to consider this program.
What different contracts can this writer create?
This seller financing contract writer can create pretty much any different contract you will need as far as seller financing contracts go. Weather it is contract for deed, short contracts, quick contracts, lease option to contracts and every thing in between! The program download will cost you a one time fee of $149.00 and will save you hundreds on lawyer cost the very first time you use it! Which I am sure you understand is no chump change!
If you would like to learn more about this program you can do so by clicking here:
If you would like to learn more about this program you can do so by clicking here:
Las Vegas, NV – November 9, 2009 – Pacific Timesheet has announced that The Florida Aquarium, based in Tampa, Florida, has selected to use its award-winning timesheet and time tracking software.
According to Paul Anderson, Florida Aquarium Conservation & Research Coordinator, “We needed a robust web-based time tracking system for project time tracking for a large number of projects and employees at The Florida Aquarium.” With a large range of aquatic habitats from wetland marshes to the coral reefs, The Florida Aquarium is one of the leading aquariums in the United States.
According to Anderson, the Florida Aquarium needed to track projects that are funded by grants, foundations, and philanthropists in to document matching contributions from The Florida Aquarium, and the staff time we dedicates to these projects. Anderson stated, “Because project time tracking will also enable us to track the investment of staff time in each of our projects; this information will help managers make informed decisions about project growth and personnel assignment.”
Anderson emphasized, “We chose Pacific Timesheet because of its User-friendly interface, flexible system for building a project hierarchy, many options to classify personnel at different categories of access, and its versatile and comprehensive reports.” He also added, “The customer service associated with this software is exceptional.”
Jim Dickerson, VP of Operation stated, “We are proud to add Florida Aquarium to our growing list of customers. Our growth in the non-profit sector this year has been substantial due in part to Pacific Timesheet’s superior usability and enterprise class feature sets.” Dickerson went on to explain, “A variety of non-profit and for-profit organizations are taking advantage of the breadth of Pacific Timesheet’s offering: payroll time tracking and labor distribution, project time tracking and job costing, time off requests and scheduling, multiple holiday schedules and more. “
About Pacific Timesheet Enterprise
Pacific Timesheet is a leader in providing timesheet software as a service and time tracking software. Its flagship product, Pacific Timesheet, provides unprecedented ease-of-use, flexibility and reliability for time and attendance, time off and absence management, payroll timesheets and project/job time tracking. Built on platform, database, and browser-independent technologies that can be implemented either on-premise or on-demand, Pacific Timesheet provides an enterprise-ready solution that is easy to use and implement for companies across the globe.
The Company is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has offices throughout North America and Europe. Pacific Timesheet is an equal opportunity employer always in search of talented professionals interested in the development and application of proven software technologies. Pacific Timesheet’s Time Management Systems are used by some of the world’s leading organizations such as Applied Materials, BCD Travel, Joy Mining, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, NOAA, New Visions for Public Schools, University of Massachusetts and many more. If you need additional information about Pacific Timesheet go to www.pacifictimesheet.com, or call 866-416-2061 ext. 1.
Pacific Timesheet
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In the first three quarters of 2009, the various localities and departments have conscientiously implemented the arrays of plans by the central government and the State Council on dealing with the international financial crisis and maintaining stable and fast development of the economy. We have attained obvious achievements, and further strengthened the steady upturn trend of the economy. The overall situation of national economy was good.
According to preliminary estimation, the gross domestic product (GDP) of China in the first three quarters of this year was 21,781.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.7 percent, which was 0.6 percentage points higher than that in the first half of this year. In terms of growth by quarters, it was up 6.1 percent for the first quarter, 7.9 percent for the second, and 8.9 percent for the third quarter. In terms of growth by sectors, the value added of the primary industry was 2,250.0 billion yuan, up by 4.0 percent; that of the secondary industry was 10,647.7 billion yuan, up by 7.5 percent; and that of the tertiary industry was 8,884.0 billion yuan, up by 8.8 percent.
1. The situation of agricultural production was steady with expected bumper harvest of grain. Given the increase of summer grain for six consecutive years, the total output of early rice reached 33.27 million tons, an increase of 1.67 million tons over that in the same period of last year, up 5.3 percent. A bumper harvest of the grain for the whole year is to be achieved. The output of meat maintains steady growth, with 52.80 million tons of port, beef and mutton output in the first three quarters, up by 5.6 percent. Of this total, the output of pork was 34.95 million tons, up by 6.3 percent; the total stock of pigs was 468 million, up 2.2 percent, while the number of slaughtered pigs was 463 million, up by 6.4 percent.
2. The growth rate of industrial production increased on a quarterly basis and the decrease rate of profits made by industrial enterprises slowed down. In the first three quarters of this year, the total value added of the industrial enterprises above designated size was up 8.7 percent year-on-year, or 6.5 percentage points lower than that in the same period of last year. Of this total, the growth in the first quarter was 5.1 percent, the second quarter 9.1 percent, and that in the third quarter was 12.4 percent. Analysis on different types of enterprises showed that the value added growth of the state-owned and state holding enterprises went up by 4.1 percent; collective enterprises, 7.9 percent; share-holding enterprises, 11.0 percent; and 3.4 percent growth for enterprises funded by foreign investors or investors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan province. The year-on-year growth of heavy industry was 8.7 percent, and 8.7 percent for the light industry. Among the 39 industrial divisions, all were increased over the same period of last years. In terms of different areas, the growth in eastern, central and western regions went up by 7.5 percent, 8.7 percent and 13.8 percent respectively. The production and market of industrial products went on well. In the first three quarters of this year, the ratio of industrial products was 97.43 percent.
In the first eight months of this year, the profits made by industrial enterprises above designated size stood at 1,674.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 10.6 percent, narrowed down by 12.2 percentage points as compared with that from January to May. Among the 39 industrial divisions, 36 divisions registered narrowed year-on-year growth or decrease with profits.
3. Investment in fixed assets enjoyed fast growth with acceleration of growth in investment in real estate. In the first three quarters of this year, the investment in fixed assets of the country was 15,505.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 33.4 percent, or a rise of 6.4 percentage points as compared with the growth in the same period last year. The investment in urban areas reached 13,317.7 billion yuan, up by 33.3 percent or 5.7 percentage points higher while that in rural areas was 2,188.0 billion yuan, up by 33.6 percent, or a rise of 10.3 percentage points. The investment in the primary industry, secondary industry and the tertiary industry in urban areas went up by 54.8 percent, 26.9 percent and 38.1 percent respectively. In terms of the areas, the investment in eastern, central and western regions grew by 28.1 percent, 38.3 percent and 38.9 percent respectively. The investment in infrastructures was increased by a large margin. In the first three quarters, the investment in infrastructure (excluding electricity) went up by 52.6 percent, of which, that in the railway transportation, up by 87.5 percent, that in road transportation, up by 50.7 percent, and that in health, social security and social welfare up by 72.9 percent. In the first three quarters, the investment in real estate development was 2,505.0 billion yuan, up by 17.7 percent year on year, or a 7.8 percentage point higher than that in first half of this year.
4. on domestic markets continued to steadily accelerate with higher growth rate at or below county level than that in cities. In the first three quarters, the total retail of consumer goods reached 8,967.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year rise of 15.1 percent; the real growth was 17.0 percent after deducting the price factors, which was 2.8 percentage points higher than that in the same period last year. The retail in cities reached 6,101.3 billion yuan, up by 14.8 percent, and the retail at and below county level stood at 2,866.3 billion yuan, up by 16.0 percent. Grouped by different sectors, the by wholesale and retail businesses was up by 15.0 percent and that by lodging and catering industry was up by 17.4 percent. Among the by wholesale and retail businesses above designated size, apart from the telecommunication devices, the of all the other 20 categories of commodities realized positive growth. Of these, the of furniture increased by 32.3 percent, and that of the automobile up by 24.5 percent.
5. The month-on-month changes of consumer price and producers’ price reversed from decreasing to increasing while the year-on-year decrease narrowed. In the first three quarters of this year, the consumer price index went down by 1.1 percent. Of which it dropped by 1.3 percent in cities and 0.7 percent in rural areas. Grouped by commodity categories, three out of eight went up while the rest five dropped: prices for tobacco, liquor and articles rose by 1.6 percent, price for household facilities, articles and maintenance services up by 0.6 percent, health care and personal articles up by 1.0 percent; prices for food down by 0.1 percent, clothing down by 2.3 percent, transportation and communication down by 2.6 percent, recreation, education, culture articles and services down by 0.7 percent, and housing down 4.4 percent. The month-on-month change of consumer price in July reversed from decreasing to maintaining the same level, the month-on-month change in August and September was up 0.5 percent and 0.4 percent respectively. In the first three quarters, the retail prices of commodities dropped by 1.6 percent year-on-year. The producers’ prices for manufactured goods went down by 6.5 percent year on year, by the end of September the month-on-month changes enjoyed growth for six consecutive years, it was up 0.6 percent in September. In the first three quarters of this year, the purchaser’s prices for raw material, fuel and power decreased by 9.5 percent year-on-year. The year-on-year growth of the prices for housing in 70 large and medium-sized cities went up by 0.1 percent.
6. The foreign trade continued to drop but the decrease rate obviously lowered. In the first three quarters of this year, the total value of imports and exports was US$ 1,557.8 billion, down 20.9 percent year-on-year. Of this total, the value of imports and exports in the first quarter down 24.9 percent, second quarter down 22.1 percent, and third quarter down by 16.5, with obviously narrowed declining rate. In the first three quarters of this year, the value of exports was US$ 846.6 billion, down by 21.3 percent; the value of imports was US$ 711.2 billion, down by 20.4 percent. The trade surplus was US$135.5 billion, down by US$ 45.5 billion year-on-year.
7. The income of urban and rural residents continued to grow with rapid increase in transfer income. In the first three quarters of this year, the per capita income of urban households was 14,213 yuan. Of this total, the per capita disposable income of urban population was 12,973 yuan, a year-on-year growth of 9.3 percent, or a real growth of 10.5 percent after deducting price factors. Of the total per capita income of urban households, the income from wages and salaries was up 10.2 percent year-on-year; transfer income was up 15.7 percent; net operating income up 5.0 percent; the property income up 12.3 percent. The per capita cash income of rural population was 4,307 Yuan, up by 8.5 percent year-on-year, or a real growth 9.2 percent after deducting price factors. Of this total, the income from wages and salaries was up 9.9 percent; income from the of agricultural products up by 4.0 percent; income from production operation in secondary and tertiary industry up by 10.5 percent; property income up by 11.7 percent; transfer income up 26.4 percent.
8. The money supply grew rapidly with continued increase in loans of financial institutions. By the end of September, the supply of broad money (M2) was 58.5 trillion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 29.3 percent, which was 11.5 percentage points higher than that at the end of last year; that of the narrow money (M1) was 20.2 trillion yuan, a rise of 29.5 percent, or 20.5 percentage points higher; the cash in circulation (M0) was 3,678.8 billion yuan, up by 16.0 percent, or 3.3 percentage points higher. The amount of outstanding loans of all financial institutions was 39.0 trillion yuan, increased by 8.7 trillion yuan over that at the beginning of this year, or an increase of 5.2 trillion yuan as compared with the same period last year. The amount of outstanding deposits of all financial institutions was 58.4 trillion yuan, an increase of 11.7 trillion yuan over the beginning of the year, or 5.2 trillion yuan more than the same period last year.
At present, it’s the crucial stage for the national economy to realize a stable growth, yet the basis of the economic recovery still needs to be consolidated, and the insufficient external demand is still severe, with the arduous task of expanding domestic demand and adjusting the structures. In the following period, we should continue the implementation of the scientific outlook on development, maintain the consistency and stability of the macro-economic policies in accordance with the central government’s decisions and deployment of economic activities, insist on the proactive fiscal policies and moderately lenient monetary policies, fully implement, enrich and optimize the arrays of plans and policy measures to deal with the international financial crisis. At the same time, we should improve the relevance, flexibility, effectiveness and consistency of the macro-policies, and strive to realize stable and fast development of the national economy.
I am a professional editor from , and my work is to promote a free online trade platform. contain a great deal of information about ,,, welcome to visit!Article Source:
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HOW IMPORTANT WAS THE OCTOBER JOBS REPORT? November 6, 2009.
The Labor Department reported on Friday that 190,000 more jobs were lost in October, only slightly worse than the consensus forecast of 175,000 lost jobs, and job losses for August and September were revised to fewer losses than previously reported. Good news. The negative surprise was that the unemployment rate shot up from 9.8% in September to 10.2% in October, considerably worse than expectations that unemployment would rise to 9.9%.
But should the report influence thinking in either direction regarding the prospects for economic recovery?
I don’t think so.
As I have noted in this column before and is widely understood, employment is a lagging indicator. Businesses won’t need more employees until well after the economy has bottomed, recovered, and consumers are buying their products at a brisk pace again.
When an economy begins to recover from a recession, which it apparently did this time in the third quarter, businesses are suspicious of the sustainability of the recovery and reluctant to hire additional workers until they absolutely must. Meanwhile, in efforts to cut costs during a slowdown, most businesses begin by cutting the hours of employees, and then are forced to cut costs further by firing workers. That process reverses as an economy recovers, with the first step to meet improving being to increase the hours of remaining workers, first back to normal, and then to put them on overtime hours, before hiring more workers.
This time around, as could be seen by Thursday’s Productivity Report (productivity in the U.S. rose an astounding 9.2% in the third quarter), businesses have also been unusually successful in getting more production out of fewer employees. So employment is liable to lag even further behind the economic recovery this time than normal.
Yet pundits continue to either worry or rejoice over each report that involves the jobs picture, even including the weekly ups and downs in the number of new unemployment claims.
It doesn’t make a lot of sense, since economists, the Federal Reserve, and most of those same pundits expect the employment picture to continue to worsen even as the economy recovers (as is normal in recoveries). Prior to Friday’s jobs report the consensus forecast, including that of the Fed, was that the unemployment rate will continue to rise as the economy recovers, peaking at 10.5% in mid-2010. (With unemployment unexpectedly already at 10.2% in October that forecasted peak will no doubt be raised).
So if the employment picture is not the place to look for signs of whether the third quarter recovery is sustainable, where should we be looking?
A few weeks ago in this column I said the economic problems began in the housing industry and the recovery will begin in the housing industry. Home and home construction did pick up in the summer months, and were important to the 3.5% GDP growth (the end of the recession) reported for the third quarter. So I suggested that we needed to watch for reports of housing activity in October, as this quarter was getting underway.
Consumer spending in general is also of much more importance than jobs reports as an early sign of a sustainable economic recovery. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, consumer spending accounts for 71% of U.S. GDP (up from the long-term average of 65% since business spending has declined even more than consumer spending in the recession).
Unfortunately the most recent reports from the housing industry and consumer spending are mixed and indicate more evidence is needed one way or the other.
For instance, new home unexpectedly declined in September, and permits for future new home starts plunged, even though the government bonus program to first-time home-buyers was still in effect. However, existing home continued to rise in September, as they had in the summer. We need to see housing numbers for October, the first month of this quarter.
There are some October reports in on consumers. Unfortunately, they show that consumer confidence fell sharply in October, after rising through the summer. That’s not a good first impression that consumer spending will drive GDP growth this quarter, as it did in the third quarter.
We do need October reports from the housing industry and consumer spending, but I believe we can ignore the debates over the October jobs report (although the headlines reporting the unemployment rate has spiked up to 10.2% is not likely to be a positive for consumer confidence).
Sy Harding is president of Asset Management Research Corp, publishers of the financial website , and the free daily market blog, www.syhardingblog.com.
Sy Harding is CEO of Asset Management Research Corp., author of 1999′s Riding the Bear and 2007′s Beat the Market the Easy Way, editor of and
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In the past decade, crumbling mainstream investment markets have caused many investors to seek safe-haven assets amidst this contracting economy, and the majority of them have learned how to gold as their ultimate tool for profit and wealth preservation amidst “the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.” This comes as no surprise, especially since the metal has increased in value more than 400% since 2001 while many mainstream investments lost more than 25% of their initial value as a result of large economic contractions. History has proven time and time again that when paperbacked assets lose value, wise investors learn how to gold as a means of preserving themselves with one of the world’s most recognized stores of wealth.
Learning how to gold is a lot easier than many investors think, and modern technology has made it a very simple diversification. When you do decide to purchase, it’s very important that you only diversify with physical possession bars and coins because riskier precious metal investments like gold stocks and exchange traded funds have proven to be just as volatile as traditional stocks and shares. Just like with most other investments, thorough research could lead you to success with gold investments, thus I have outlined a three-step plan below that could lead you on your way to success with the metal:
Research Gold Market = There are several different factors that affect the gold market on a daily basis, and understanding these factors is the first step to success with a precious metal diversification. The spot price is the base price of one-ounce of gold on commodities exchanges worldwide, and it is the most important factor because it is influenced by external economic factors ranging from the strength of the United States Dollar to investor sentiment about the economy, stocks, bonds and real estate. You can track this spot price on reputable websites like www.GoldPrice.net.
Research Gold Bars And Coins = When learning how to gold, it’s important to know that there are hundreds of different bars and coins that could benefit certain types of investment portfolios. All these products are split into two major categories; modern-day bullion and pre-1933 certified rare coins. Investors who purchase modern-day bullion typically seek short-term profit from their investment while investors who purchase certified rare coins typically seek long-term wealth preservation from their investment. An excellent award-winning resource that can help you learn more about these bars and coins is www.Gold-Investment.info.
Research The Best Dealers = There are literally hundreds of gold dealers scattered across the nation, some of the reputable but most of them not so reputable. Conducting background reputability checks is important because you always want to deal with companies that hold long-standing histories of excellent service and pricing. The Better Business Bureau website is an excellent resource because simply by inputting the name of a gold dealer, you can see their BBB rating as well as any comments and complaints they may have. Precious metal firms such as www.CertifiedGoldExchange.com have held A+ ratings with the BBB since 1992, thus making them one of the industry leaders in this flourishing market.