US Economy Forecasts

Bob Urichuck asked:


Maintaining sales motivation in an uncertain economy is tough when we become a product of that environment. As the world is discussing the downturn in the economy more and more, we are also attracting a downturn in our behaviors. We spend less, do less and wait it out. That is the wrong thing to do!

Wake up! Refuse to be part of any negative environment or uncertain economy. It will only bring you down. It will change your beliefs, your attitude, the way you feel, the actions you take and the results you get. You need to maintain your sales motivation and sales results.

You are a professional and have to maintain professionalism in all that you do. That means, to keep doing what you have always done, and when the going gets tough, the tough get going and do more. That is sales motivation.

This is not the time to slow down, or to waste time discussing the economy. It is time to step up and do more! This is the time of opportunity. It is not the economy that will or will not give you the results you are looking for.

It is your attitude towards the economy and the behavior! That you demonstrate on a daily basis. Your attitude and your behavior is your motivation towards sales results.

You attitude stems from your beliefs. What do you believe about today’s economy? How long do you think it will last? How do you think customers will react to your products and services during this downturn? And most importantly, how will you react?

Your answers to these questions above will determine your level of sales professional motivation. If you believe that this is the time of opportunity - opportunity to sell more, as your competition downsizes, opportunity to hire highly skilled labor, as they are being let go, or opportunity to expand as prices fall, you will gain positive results. However, the opposite is also true.

Be aware of your beliefs as they will affect your attitude and behaviors. If you maintain a positive attitude, your actions will be demonstrated in your behaviors and will attract positive results. Sales motivation starts with your beliefs and ends with your reactions to those beliefs

Believe in who you are, and what you do. Believe in your organization, it’s products and services, team members and the market your sell into. Believe there is opportunity out there and you will find it.

Be disciplined, continue to do what you have to do, even when you do not want to do it and you will maintain sales motivation, in certain and uncertain economies.

John Parks asked:


When the Obama administration takes office in January, it has promised to hit the ground running with a job stimulus plan that will start moving the economy forward. It’s a good idea, and certainly not without precedent, since many believe the Works Progress Administration (WPA) of the 1930’s was instrumental in keeping many in valuable jobs creating some of our nation’s finest public works and monuments. This program employed 8 million workers from 1935 to 1943, and anyone was eligible to take the WPA jobs. The hourly pay was at local labor rates.

While most of the talk about the job stimulus plan centers around building a greener energy infrastructure and fixing crumbling bridges and highways, who is likely to benefit? The new administration wants to create 3 million jobs, but those workers are going to be mainly in the engineering, construction, energy, and financial sectors. Even though that leaves out the important sectors of retail, and services, workers all across the board stand to benefit from the job stimulus plan, no matter how it takes shape.

The jobs in the sectors that the Obama administration wants to create have high multipliers. That’s a term that means for every job created for engineers, two or three jobs might be created in a related or unrelated field. A real life example is to look at home building. When home building was at its peak, the construction workers were by and large making good incomes, which allowed them to buy things. The demand for products was high, so manufacturers added workers. Those products had to be sold in retail stores, so stores were able to add staff.

When the construction industry stopped building as many homes due to the credit crisis, the construction workers were laid off, and they stopped buying. Manufacturers stopped making things to sell, so retailers had to lay off workers. And that’s what the Obama administration wants to reverse. They want to create a job stimulus plan that will have a positive ripple effect throughout the entire economy.

Their plan is not clear yet, but historically, jobs that are in the sectors that they are targeting almost always create new jobs. Employment in these sectors usually pays quite well for almost everyone involved. As these individuals find new jobs, they will start spending their money on things, which will set the recovery in motion. And it’s not just spending for their homes and families. It’s the spending that will be required to fix those bridges and highways, and build those solar panels and wind turbines.

As the effect of the job stimulus plan begins to be felt at local levels, the increased revenues will eventually trickle across the entire economy, and gradually, the country will come out of this deep recession, which is the greatest benefit of the using federal dollars to stimulate the economy. It’s been done before, and history has proven that it works, so let’s hope that the job stimulus plan happens quickly, and some of that money can be put to work creating more opportunities, better roads, and cleaner energy.

For more information on the job stimulus plan, visit http://jobstimulusplan.com.

Sarah Deak asked:


With Italy’s socking win to become the world’s best soccer team, it seems prudent to discuss something that is not usually connected with soccer: the economy.

It may seem strange, but many say it is true, that the outcome of this super sports event dictates the economic future of the participating teams and in turn, the world. It has been researched, and evidence has been found, to hypothesize the winners of the World Cup can expect to have a small boost in their finances as a result of the win. In “Soccer and the Economy: March 2006 Edition”, Ruben van Leeuwen and Charles Kalshoven discussed this phenomenon. In their document van Leeuween and Kalshoven look to a study conducted to the Algemene Bank Nederland (ABN) and the Amsterdamsche-Rotterdamsche Bank (AMRO) showing that the winning countries tend to see a 0.7% increase in their market. Most of this increase is contributed to the positive energy generated in a country from a win. A win at the World Cup causes a whole country to feel pride and happiness, and happy people just love to buy. Plus, parties to celebrate the win will generate revenue and work, especially in bars and supermarkets. Another means of economic growth come from the sale of souvenirs commemorating the big win. Finally, a country that wins the World Cup is recognized by the whole world because of its achievement. This recognition may open up new trade opportunities and make businesses more inclined to invest in the country (Kalshoven and Van Leeuwen).

In 2002, .3 billion people watched the World Cup Final in Japan, and this number is predicted to be much higher in Berlin (Unknown). This amount of publicity certainly helps stimulate the economy in general, but past wins reflect that the theory that economic growth and World Cup champions go hand in hand. According to van Leeuween and Kalshoven, there have only been two exceptions to this theory since 1970: in 1974 and 1978. In these two years, the German (’74) and Argentine (’78) economy declined, however the economy of the losing finalist both years, the Netherlands, had a far greater loss. However, in 1988 the Netherlands finally had its victory and its economic growth. IN this year the Amsterdam stock market gained 29% more than it did the previous year. Van Leeuween and Kalshoven have seen a gain of about 10% for the World Cup champions and a loss of about 25% on average for the losing team. This growth is not uncommon, says van Leeuween and Kalshhoven as they have seen on averaged a 10% gain for the World Cup champions and 25% loss for the losing team (Kalshoven and Van Leeuwen).

Before the beginning of the Cup, Brazil and England were the favorites, but with these two already out it is hard to tell who will be gaining that economic boost. Germany, as the host country, has put more than $350 million into transportation improvements for the Cup and in total $1.7 billion to improve stadiums (Higginson). Since they have put so much in, it may be safe to say Germany deserves this win. Also, Germany has fallen on economic hard times, making a win highly beneficial to not only the economic state of the country but the psychological state as well. However, on Sunday Germany’s dreams were dashed by a stellar overtime performance by the Italian team. However, Germany is not totally discouraged as it expects at least a 1.6% increase in its GNP due only to the revenue generated from being a host country. Plus, the new jobs created by this opportunity have led to an 11% increase in Germany’s unemployment rate (Drew).

It shall remain to be seen whether or not Italy has the economic golden egg hidden under the title of World Cup Champion, but at least it is sure they have the respect of the world (a maybe a bruised sternum). The next World Cup is not set to be played until summer 2010, when it will be hosted by South Africa.

Works Cited

Drew, Catherine. “VOA News-German Businesses Await Economic Effects of World Cup.” News VOA. 8 June 2006. 28 June 2006 http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-06-08-voa37.cfm.

Higginson, Matthew. “Financial Goals: the Wealth Behind the World Cup.” TMCNet. 12 June 2006. Technology Marketing Corporation. 28 June 2006 http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/06/12/1677445.htm.

Kalshoven, Charles, and Ruben Van Leeuwen. Netherlands. ABN AMRO. Soccernomics 2006: Soccer and the Economy. 22 Mar. 2006. 28 June 2006 http://www.abnamro.com/pressroom/releases/media/pdf/abnamro_soccernomics_2006_en.pdf.

Unknown.”World Cup 2006-Private Sector Development- the World Bank Group.” Private Sector Development Home. Summer 2006. The World Bank Group. 28 June 2006 http://rru.worldbank.org/features/worldcup2006.aspx.

Glenn Mosser asked:


All I can say is…WOW. Over the last few weeks, the economy has taken a beating.

Stock prices plummeting, major buyouts, major companies going under it are seriously crazy what is happening out there right now.

People who have been counting on their jobs as their source of sustenance,  retirement income, you name it have watched it all wiped out in front of them. That is scary.

I could not imagine working my whole life, then watching my retirement plan be wiped out with a market crash or worse lose the job that is paying my way.

Especially with so little opportunity, out there right now to get better jobs.

I do not know about you… but to me this is all just plain madness.

In addition, that is why I simply refuse to work for other people.

I simply refuse for my financial well-being and security to be in the hands of someone else or some messed up things that happen in the economy.

In addition, here is the crazy part while the economy has been tanking my income and stability has actually been steadily increasing.

The reason why more people is completely see the need to have additional streams of income, and are working hard to create them!

Since I am an expert at showing people how to run their own home based businesses, I have had people flocking to me in DROVES to get my advice, training, and coaching.

Right now is a time of massive opportunity for people in the home based business industry. Because while the economy is going to junk everyone is looking for ways, they can take their financial security into their own hands.