Yes, it WAS kind of a "look out below" day again, eh? <sigh> Well, there's plenty of room, but you gotta bring your own beer.
I've been hearing a lot of talk of a "soft landing" in the economy recently. Even an article in USA Today intimating that interest rates may trickle downwards early next year, once everybody realizes the landing is complete.
Me, I ain't buying it.
The numbers I'm seeing look more like good ol' stagflation, one of the scenarios that could bring our beloved semi-equips to their knees (if not fully prostrate). Other than house prices, already shouted to the nation, I don't know how prices in your area are moving. Here they're going up all too quickly. Food, fuel, autos, you name it; looks like inflation, smells like inflation. <holding nose>
On the "stagnation" side, job growth is over locally, folks are pulling down their "help wanted" signs, and the like. Some of that is because the University students showed up this month; but not all of what I'm seeing.
My Cistercian Buddhist buddy, who watches the economy like a hawk (he's also MBA Summa from Northwestern), is even showing signs of concern. And he's definitely an optimist, unlike me....
Mitch |
