Volume 13; Issue 2
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE 2ND HALF?
The economic outlook for the second half of the year is really up in the air at this point. Earlier this month, we were cautiously optimistic that real (i.e., inflation adjusted) gross domestic product (GDP) could grow approximately 3%, which would be much higher than the less than 2% we are expecting for the first half of the year. However, that cautious optimism is under threat as more recent economic data are suggesting sluggishness, not strength, will prevail. For example, we had a disappointing manufacturing number for June and there is still a lot of uncertainty related to the U.S. debt ceiling crisis and the European debt issue. To be certain, we are talking about sluggish growth for the rest of the year,not another recession.
Click here for the complete Jul. 22, 2011 Trucking Economic Review.