Joseph Abate

With little excess capacity left in the labor market, we expect continued upward pressure on wages.

With little excess capacity left in the labor market, we expect continued upward pressure on wages.

Further improvement in earnings and additional declines in the unemployment rate is likely to boost overall confidence and keep consumption read more

Further improvement in earnings and additional declines in the unemployment rate is likely to boost overall confidence and keep consumption strong.

On net, we'll see some damage and a hit to corporate profits and proprietors' income, but that effect is temporary. read more

On net, we'll see some damage and a hit to corporate profits and proprietors' income, but that effect is temporary. But in the next quarter, we will get some mild stimulus from the rebuilding. Certainly, it will have no major, permanent effect on the economy.

With corporate balance sheets and cash flow strong, we look for investment spending to remain strong, pushing up growth in read more

With corporate balance sheets and cash flow strong, we look for investment spending to remain strong, pushing up growth in the capital stock and adding to labor productivity growth in 2006.

Warm weather and a post-December rebound in new activity will likely boost construction payrolls. Retail employment should also enjoy a read more

Warm weather and a post-December rebound in new activity will likely boost construction payrolls. Retail employment should also enjoy a post-holiday boost.