Ten 'Good News' Charts on U.S. Economy

The past performance of the US Economy is no indication of future results. But these ten "good news" charts seem compelling to me.

1. Credit provided by US Commercial Banks will continue to increase, just like their lending has in all of 2008:

2. Unemployment during the current recession will not return to the peak rate of the Great Depression nor the recession rate of the early 1980s:

3. The Mid-Tier Banking sector will continue to be healthy, strong, and growing in numbers. (No depositors will run them).

4. Lending Rates to Banks (Fed Funds Rate) and to consumers (Prime rates, and those indexed to prime), will continue for an extended time at unprecedented low levels.

5. Gas and Oil Prices in 2009 will not return to their speculative peak prices of mid-2008.

Thanks to the Federal Reserve, Celent, and CARPE DIEM for chart inspiration.

Comments

[Mowog:]

The FabiusMaximus blog begs to differ, but that's one voice among many.

2008 Dec 30 08:03 AM

[David I. Te...:]

GNE,
Nice article. The mainstream media has a tendency to ignore what the crowd is not following. This is an example of the media being a contrarian indicator. Once the market/economy turnaround (after the fact) the media will be all over the type of information you have presented here.

DT

2008 Dec 30 08:33 AM

[The Good Ne...:]

Thanks David. As you can tell I agree with your "road less traveled" approach...

GNE

2008 Dec 30 01:28 PM