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The U.S. Economy
…picking up
The first quarter’s pathetic 0.6% real (inflation adjusted) annual growth pace should be followed by a 2.2%-3.2% growth rate over the next 12 months, more in line with the 3.2% real growth pace of 2005 and 2006. Both the broad services sector and the manufacturing sector have shown recent signs of improvement. Financial market players are less concerned about the chance of recession…and more concerned about solid economic growth aggravating inflation. It’s always somethin’!

The Federal Budget
…revenues surge
A budget deficit of $150 billion or less (the smallest in six years) seems on tap for fiscal year 2007. Surpluses at the state and local level offset the nation’s shortfall. Powerful gains in individual and corporate tax revenue, tied to income and investment tax cuts of recent years, are today’s reality. Of concern? Budget challenges become more daunting in coming years.

Employment
…labor shortage
The nation’s unemployment rate averaged 4.6% over the past 18 months, below the averages of the ’70s, the ’80s, and the ’90s. The issue of tighter labor availability—especially for skilled workers—will challenge businesses of all shapes and sizes. Growth of the labor force in coming years? The slowest ever.

Inflation
…oil unknown
Most forecasters see 2007 consumer inflation near 2.5%-2.8%. By comparison, the Consumer Price Index rose 2.5% last year, 3.4% in 2005, and 3.3% in 2004. The direction of oil prices has a great deal to do with subsequent inflation pressures.

The Federal Reserve
…gone fishin’
The Federal Reserve has been on the monetary sidelines since June 2006, following 17 consecutive 0.25% hikes (to 5.25%) between June 2004 and June 2006 in the critical federal funds rate. Prior to that period, the federal funds rate was at a 46-year low of 1.00% for 12 months.

Most forecasters expect the Fed to remain on hold through the end of the year, with some expecting a small rate cut late in the year. Making it interesting? A vocal minority of economists still expect the Fed to tighten later in the year.

Long-Term Interest Rates
…global pressures
Thirty-year fixed-rate mortgages rose to the 6.50%-6.80% range in mid-June as signs of strong global economic growth raised inflation anxiety. However, don’t listen to those who might talk of 7.50% to 8.00% to 8.50% mortgages just around the corner. It won’t happen.

Home Prices
…realistic pricing
Surging home prices on both coasts and in the Southwest during 2002 to 2006 gave way to a buyers’ market more recently. The simple reason? The average American home rose 53.53% between March 31, 2002 and March 31, 2007. Florida?…up 102.12%. California?…up 98.80%. Nevada?…up 95.75%. Arizona?…up 93.76% (source: OFHEO).

Home owners and “investors” simply became too greedy, requiring the current painful downward adjustment in many markets. We expect greater home price strength in the nation’s interior as relative values (compared to the coasts) are attractive.

The Global Economy
…solid growth
Strong global economic growth continues, following impressive growth during the prior four years. Solid growth for 4-5 consecutive years is the first such occurrence since the early 1970s. Risks to ongoing solid growth include any major terrorist atrocities (especially on American soil), much higher oil prices, and a worsening of Middle East tensions.

Japan, the global community’s second largest economy, returned to modest economic growth during the past few years after a decade of economic stagnation. Stronger consumer spending at home and rising exports to China have benefited Japan.

Powerful Chinese economic growth and higher Chinese stock prices of recent years have led to further steps by political leaders to slow the economy down. Excessive growth has also led to serious environmental damage.

Strong Indian economic growth also remains on track, although an infrastructure of two-lane national highways and antiquated airports, sewers, & water systems must be addressed. Most other economies in the Pacific Rim are performing well.

The European economy has improved, with real growth near 2.7%-3.0%, the best in six years. Germany and France still struggle with jobless rates nearly double those in the U.S. and Japan. Long-delayed labor reforms bode well for greater European competitiveness in coming years. The European Central Bank has raised its key short-term interest rate eight times since late 2005 to keep inflation under wraps. An additional hike or two could occur later this year.

By various measures, Russia has now surpassed Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest oil producer. Moves toward greater governmental control and lesser individual freedoms are worrisome. President Putin still talks of stepping down in 2008…we’ll see.

Various South American countries struggle with high taxes and stifling regulatory burdens. Oil-rich Venezuela remains a political powder keg, with oil production now in decline.

Canadian economic growth has slowed, although the energy-rich Western provinces are booming. The nation’s most recent jobless rate was 6.1%, a 33-year low. Mexico’s economy is growing at a reasonable pace, with the immigration issue highly charged on both sides of the Rio Grande.

The Bottom Line?
U.S. economic performance is likely to return to a more solid pace, following sluggish first quarter growth. In addition, we expect: a declining budget deficit…tighter labor availability…modest inflation pressures…relative stability in both short- and long-term interest rates…soft coastal housing markets, with more solid interior performance…and an anxious but impressive global marketplace.

econAmerica

An optimistic book about the U.S. economy? That’s almost unheard of among the “doom and gloom” books that line the shelves of the nation’s bookstores. But econAmerica, my latest book published by Wiley & Sons, provides a bright outlook and a clear picture of the American economy. Below are some excerpts from the preface.

An Introduction
I learned a long time ago that I cannot have a useful discussion about “the economy” with a purely academic economist. To these university economists, almost everything fits into a mathematical equation. In the real world, it does not.

Consumer attitudes and human emotion are as powerful as any other forces impacting this world. Economics is simply “the study of life” and the choices we make.

Economics—also known as “the dismal science”—gets a bad rap too frequently as being vague and unscientific. To quote a friend, economics should get the respect it deserves alongside the other occult sciences.

The American economy has performed well in recent years despite the painful shocks of global terrorism, sky-high energy prices, rising short-term interest rates, and volatile housing markets. Even as solid growth has occurred, the national media has led millions of Americans to believe that the economy is merely limping along, creating few quality jobs, and on the brink of disaster.

This country has a bright future. The American people have a bright future. This book, econAmerica, reflects my view of the way things are—including the good news and the bad news—and the way I think they should be. The book can be of value to both novice and seasoned practitioners of economic study. It focuses on four key factors, or Silver Bullets, that combine to create a strong American economy in coming years.

Today’s opportunities for our young people are no less exciting than they were a generation ago. The Internet provides the means for small players to compete with the giants. America’s leadership role in the world will continue. Such leadership will occur despite the challenges from China, India, Japan, and a more cohesive Europe.

An important area of my work is forecasting the future. Forecasting is not easy—economists are wrong more often than we are right, for which we receive considerable and well-deserved abuse. Economists give forecasts of the future not because we know what is going to happen. We give forecasts because we are asked to.

I and many other economists will continue to provide forecasts for tomorrow. Members of audiences I address will continue to challenge me, criticize me, and sometimes even agree with me.

In the meantime, I will continue to do what I love doing, that is, extensive writing and traveling in excess of 100,000 miles annually speaking optimistically about the future of America.

Obtaining a Copy
For copies of econAmerica, ask for it at your local bookstore, or visit www.econAmerica.com. There you can read sample chapters, order a copy for yourself, and receive special pricing on bulk orders for friends, colleagues, and clients.

I hope you enjoy econAmerica.

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