US Economy Forecasts

Jason Allen Miller asked:


and Answers

Q- How bad will this economy get?

A- This downfall of the economy has really just started; in the near future you will see more local and national businesses shutting their doors, contributing the cause to many factors.  Some factors may include:  (1) gas prices - which hurt many services business cutting their normal profits in half or more while forcing them to pass on some of the fuel increases to the consumers (2) unemployment  - which causes people to save instead of spend, hurting more businesses and leads to more people without jobs and tons of bills to pay.

Do not be fooled by the government bailouts, they are doing the same thing most people do right before they claim bankruptcy - using credit card debt to pay off your bill debt.  I do not know about you, but when a government is taking on billions of dollars in debt to bail out the economy, we all need to be greatly concerned.  This means the average person probably will not be clicking their ruby slippers together while repeatedly asking to be sent home; because in reality their not sleeping, but wide awake and living a nightmare.

Q- If I loose my job, how will I pay my bills while I am trying to get hired somewhere else?

A- When someone is asking me this question, I really know that they are in a bad predicament.  This situation happens to be the single biggest reason why people have had financial problems and had to rely on bankruptcy (leaving hundreds of thousands of families without their homes, cars and basic amenities).

So to answer your question, yes you will loose everything if you can not figure out how to replace your income in a timely fashion.  No matter how far up on the feeding chain you are; if you have no income - eventually you will not be able to pay your bills.  It is very unlikely that you will find another job that will pay you in the same respect; other companies are much like the one you where fired from, and are trying to downsize their business as well.  

However, for those who have a secondary income or a full-time income that is not linked directly to our local economy or a job that they will not lose; those people will fair just fine.  You should take a look and find yourself a secondary income or home-based business that you can build before it is your turn to get downsized.  At this moment working a few extra hours every week to build a second income is not an option; it is a financial decision that could cost you everything.  I suggest that you begin as soon as you are finished reading this article.  To start, go out and find as much education on how to make yourself an extra income before time runs out.

We are living in desperate times, and those who have had their head in the sand trying to ignore what is going on will be the ones who are without food, shelter, transportation, proper education, income, health care, etc.  It is best to get going now before it is too late.  

By Jason Allen Miller

http://www.jallenmiller.com/find  

Daniel Millions asked:


Gas prices continue to increase, with no end in sight. This trend further accentuates the need for every human to purchase more fuel efficient cars. Having an automobile with good fuel economy is not only helpful in saving money, but it is also an integral part of repairing the environment.

The official definition of fuel economy is how much gas is needed to move a certain distance. In the United States, fuel economy is measured in miles per gallon, while in the rest of the world, it is mostly calculated in liters per one hundred kilometers. These measuring systems vary greatly; a higher number in the US system is optimal, while a lower number is desired in the metric system (the lower the number, the lower the amount of fuel needed to travel one hundred kilometers).

Governments are taking notice of the importance of fuel economy, and are establishing guidelines which will regulate efficiency in the future. The European Union has decided that, starting in 2012, gasoline cars must have at least a 47mpg rating, and diesel cars must have at least a 52mpg rating. The United States currently taxes vehicles that do not adhere to environmental standards, as a means of discouraging their production. These taxes and penalties are expected to increase drastically within the next few years.

Engineers are constantly working to find ways to increase the fuel efficiency of vehicles. Several factors affect fuel economy, so it is a matter of altering those factors to produce better efficiency. The weight of a car is one of the biggest factors in fuel economy, so engineers are always trying to make cars lighter.

This can be done through replacing traditional materials, such as iron, with alternative options like carbon fiber. Wind resistance and drag require cars to exert energy to overcome them, so vehicles that are designed to experience these factors minimally have better fuel economies. Anything that can increase or save energy is beneficial. For example, shutting off the engine while the car is stopped saves energy.

Improving the efficiency of engine combustion is a key factor. Most engines only exploit 10-20% of the energy released from burning fuel; the rest is lost to heat and other forms of energy. Fuel cells are so desirable because up to 80% of their produced energy can be directly utilized. Different types of combustion, such as lean burn and HCCI combustion are being tested to identify what method is most efficient.

Average consumers can play their part in increasing the fuel economy of their vehicles. Fuel efficiency increasing products are popular in the market right now, but most of them do not actually improve efficiency at all. Simple things, like keeping the air pressure in tires high, and slowly accelerating and decelerating, can expand a vehicle’s rating a fair degree.

Hybrid cars are the best option currently for those who want speed and great fuel economy. These models combine electrical and gasoline engine components to create something which does not feel like an electric car at all. Hybrid vehicles recapture wasted energy during breaking, shut off gasoline power during idle periods, and utilize gas and electric power simultaneously to reduce the total amount of fuel consumed. All of these factors combined result in fuel ratings of over 50mpg, as well as lower emissions.

Christina Archer asked:


If you turn on the television, or open up a newspaper, you know the bad news: the economy is headed toward recession. Gas prices are at all time highs, and companies are cutting back on their help. Does this all have to affect you - the job seeker? Not at all!

We’ll discuss the secrets to landing your dream job in a tough economy. First of all, we’ll discuss the concept of marketing your skills and experience to employers; versus simply applying for jobs. Secondly, we create a set of metrics you can utilize when making your employer-contacts, to ensure you receive the appropriate number of positive responses you are seeking. Finally, we’ll go over options for individuals who wish to hire a reputable company to market their skills and experience, so that the entire job search process can be completed in the most seamless manner.

When you think of beginning a job search, most of us have the idea of browsing the employment classifieds, finding open positions that match our desire, and then emailing or faxing our latest resume. This is a very simple process, in theory. Think of the number of applicants one single advertisement can illicit. How are you going to differentiate yourself from the volumes of other applicants who are also attempting to obtain the very same position?

It’s time to adjust our thinking on applying for a job, from being “an applicant,” to actively marketing your professional skills, experience and background. When you approach the career search from a marketing perspective, with a solid marketing plan, you soon find that you’ll begin receiving more job offers, and less turn-down letters.

Marketing in of itself, is a numbers game. Marketing yourself to a company as their next super star, requires that you make a certain number of contacts each day until you receive the job offer that hits your target. The sooner you need to make an employment change, the higher the number of contacts you will need to make on a daily basis. Many individuals find it helpful to submit their resume through a targeted resume distribution service. This is one way to reach hundreds of employers, with minimal effort. For the job candidate who wishes to make a change as soon as possible, it’s important to make between 5 and 20 applications per week. Keep in mind, it’s necessary to first research the companies who hire within your field, determine the locations you are willing to work, and then contact the hiring managers.

You may be asking yourself, how is a job seeker supposed to find time for an active career search, along with current professional and family commitments? The entire job search process can be handled from beginning to end, by a professional candidate management company. These companies run daily searches on behalf of the job seeker, market the individual’s skills, background and experience to target companies, and guarantee results. Unlike working with the “traditional headhunter,” a candidate management service or career search company, takes a pro-active approach to the job search, on behalf of the job seeker, for a reasonable fee. This completely changes the dynamic of the recruiting process for companies, and puts more control into the hands of the job applicant.

Difficult financial times, require drastic measures. Finding your dream job will effectively change your life, and the life of your family. Instead of allowing your career to take a “back-seat” during a tough economy, it’s time to become a proactive career seeker. The true secret to landing your target job, is moving your perspective from that of passive job applicant, to an effective career skills marketer.