Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Deficit, Energy, and Employment Predictions

These predictions come straight from the government.

The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2009 to 2019 (pdf)

High deficits in the near term may be inevitable in the face of the financial crisis and severe economic weakness, However, once the nation gets past this downturn, it will still face significant fiscal challenges posed by rising health care costs and the aging of the population. Continued large deficits and the resulting increases in federal debt over time would probably constrain long-term economic growth by reducing national savings and investment, which in turn would cause productivity and wage growth to gradually slow.

EIA: Short-Term Energy Outlook

The worsening global economy and a weak oil consumption outlook are keeping the world oil market well supplied, despite two downward revisions in production targets by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) within the past few months.

BLS: Retail Salespersons

Employment is expected to grow by 12 percent over the 2006-16 decade, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. In fact, due to the size of this occupation, retail salespersons will have one of the largest numbers of new jobs arise, about 557,000 over the projections decade. This growth reflects rising retail sales stemming from a growing population. Many retail establishments will continue to expand in size and number, leading to new retail sales positions.

BLS: Chefs, Cooks, and Food Preparation Workers

Employment of chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers is expected to increase by 11 percent over the 2006-16 decade, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. This occupation will have among the largest numbers of new jobs arise, about 351,000 over the period. Growth will be spurred by increases in population, household income, and demand for convenience that will lead to more people dining out and taking vacations that include hotel stays and restaurant visits.

BLS: Loan Officers

Employment of loan officers is projected to increase 11 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is about as fast as the the average for all occupations. Employment growth stemming from economic expansion and population increases—factors that generate demand for loans—will be partially offset by increased automation that speeds the lending process and by the growing use of the Internet to apply for and obtain loans.

Here's a summary.

Many retail establishments will continue to expand in size and number despite the financial crisis and severe economic weakness. As household incomes rise, despite slowing wage growth brought on by increases in the federal debt over time, more cooks will be needed as we continue to visit restaurants and take vacations. The economic expansion will require an ever increasing number of loan officers as we continue to reduce national savings and investment. And lastly, the world oil market will be well supplied as long as the global economy continues to worsen.

I don't know about you, but I feel much better already.

6 comments:

  1. Stag,

    I saw a funny bumper sticker the other day. It said: Bush Survivor

    For some reason I got big kick out of that. It's a glass "half full" AND "half empty" point of view.

    Speaking of half empty, I watched Obama last night. Lots of style. Little substance. Obama may be new but his schtick has already gotten old to me. Lots of speeches, little change.

    Obama seems to have good intentions. But it won't matter. His plans expand government and that always ends up rewarding the special interest grifters (the rich and the poor). The middle class pays for the expansion, the lobbyists see that the special interests benefit. What a sham(e).

    I will say that Bernanke and Obama have motivated me to become more demotivated. Half full and half empty, just like a 201K.

    Just to be fair and balanced I'll do some more Republican bashing.

    They call Reagan the "great communicator." The "great propagandist" is more fitting. The Reagan administration presided over a massive expansion of government (huge deficits). Yet Reagan was able to to give his massive expansion of government a "free market" label. That was some seriously effective propaganda.

    Reagan's propaganda had the tail wind of lower asset valuations and lower debt levels. Those are big headwinds for Obama. He'll be lucky if people view things as "only" half full.

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  2. mab,

    Carter seemed to have the best intentions. I therefore expect Obama to help Carterize our financial wounds. Somebody needs to do something to stop the bleeding.

    That being said, it can't be any worse than we experienced under incompetent intentions. Fllippin' the bird with the hand is worth two Bushes (both father and son).

    Badpuns-ching!

    Speaking of watching people speak, I often wonder how productive I would have been at my job if I would have been required to testify in front of Congress every few days. I keep thinking, "Not very!"

    Ben Bernanke just told Congress that it is very important that we don't let a crisis like this happen again.

    Is it too late to go long on "tfutures" crises safely, or are those weapons of financial mass destruction going to incinerate all counterparties?

    Counterparty Risk Like It's 2009!

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  3. The future will be characterised by amity and the prospects of a trophy. Unfortunately, that'll be calamity and catastrophe.

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  4. dearieme,

    LOL! I must be getting stagflationary. It took me a few extra passes to get the joke! Of course, that just made it all that much funnier when I finally did get it, lol.

    Too bad the economy is playing a joke on all of us.

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  5. Stag,

    I watched Bernanke's CONgressional testimoany on TV this week. Bernanke stated the goal is to get private capital to invest in banks to shore up their balance sheets.

    Any interest in putting your capital to work? Based on the following graphs, I definitely think banks are going to need some serious capital.

    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FM71j6-VkNE/SaVUDA0vv1I/AAAAAAAABFY/Zen3bxybbPQ/s1600-h/doomsday.jpg

    You have to admire the record setting ability of this eCONomy. It's like watching Michael Phelps!

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  6. mab,

    Any interest in putting your capital to work?

    You clearly haven't met my capital. It's really, really lazy. It's currently sliding down Capitol Hill's slope of hope on an inner tube.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pmN4PMDR68

    ReplyDelete