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2018 Outlook Stays Strong, but Downside Risks Rise

By Economic Outlook, Monthly Update

The Conference Board Economic Forecast for the U.S. Economy April 11, 2018

2018 Outlook Stays Strong, but Downside Risks Rise

Can the US economy in 2018 live up to expectations? Starting the year with a 3.0 growth forecast is a tough act to measure up to. In fact, first-quarter growth was a mere 1.9 percent. While our GDP growth projection remains strong, we are increasingly concerned that it could fall short of expectations.

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From Greg’s Desk: March Outlook

By Economic Outlook, From Greg's Desk, Monthly Update

March 7, 2018

Summary: As forecast in my 2018 Outlook, markets have seen a return to “normal” this year with increased volatility and an expected correction in the stock market. Despite the recent correction and volatility, this does not signal the end of the bull market which will likely continue for another year, or two. International markets, many still in earlier stages of the economic cycle, continue to look like a bright spot for continued growth. But with the economy now in its mature stage and inflation and other factors now at play, we cannot rule out a recession coming sooner than we expect.

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From Greg’s Desk: David Letterman, Jesus, and a Clarified Mission

By From Greg's Desk

“There are three things that I know for a fact in the world,” David Letterman recently said after receiving the 2017 Mark Twain Prize for Humor. “These are universal. Absolutely universal. 1) If somebody comes up to you with a bag of M&M’s, pours out a handful in your hand, automatically, you will start doing this (shaking hand back and forth). Absolutely no control over that. You’ll be doing this before you know it. 2) If you pull a nose out of your hair…er…a hair out of your nose, I don’t care if you do it a hundred times, each time you will sneeze. And 3) if you help someone, in any way, big or small, automatically you will feel good about yourself. Those are the three things that I know. And I’ve seen a guy pull a nose out of his hair. Years ago at the fair”.

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