Article Archive — Economy
America’s Manufacturing-Led Recovery
Bouncing Back with a Vengeance
Manufacturing has played a pivotal role supporting economic growth in the U.S. over the past year and a half, and the stage is set for this to continue. Manufacturing’s outsized contribution to growth, however, has not come from some Herculean strength in the sector. Ultimately, according to TD Bank economists James Marple and Alistair Bentley, until the housing and service sectors become more engaged in the recovery, manufacturing will reign supreme in underpinning it.
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2011 Outlook of What CFOs Expect
2011 Survey of What Finance Chiefs Expect
How do top financial decision makers view the world economy and what is their outlook for revenue, financing, M&A activity and involvement in foreign markets, three years after the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression? To find out, Bank of America Business Capital turned to an independent research firm, surveying more than 800 CFOs representing U.S. manufacturing and services and commodities companies.
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U.S. Economic & Interest Rate Outlook
Greece, Portugal & Spain Are the Least of Our Economic and Financial Challenges
In the following outlook, economist Paul Kasriel of Northern Trust’s Global Economic Research team puts the economic turmoil happening in Greece, Portugal and Spain (GPS) in perspective. Kasriel suggests we reset our collective GPS away from these troubled Euro-zone members as their problems are less likely to have a significant effect on global economic activity in the short term. The BIC countries of Brazil, India and China are a different story…
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2010 Outlook of What CFOs Expect
The following article explores the results of the 12th annual survey of mid-size and large U.S. manufacturing company CFOs commissioned by Bank of America Business Capital. Phone interviews were conducted from mid-August to mid-October 2009.
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Although the Economy Shows Signs of Leveling Out, PNC’s Economist Says We’re Not Out of the Woods Just Yet
They say so much can change in a year — and from the time we spoke with PNC Economist Robert Dye in the late summer of 2008 until now, in August 2009, we have seen a multitude of bad news stories, but we are weathering the continued after effects of the mid-2000s “economic party” attitude. With the after-party crash, came tumult in the financial and consumer sectors. As we continue to experience a very long, drawn out and somewhat painful hangover effect, we hope to sweep up the confetti, take some aspirin and head toward a better next few years.
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Is Your Business Ready for Economic Recovery?
Just like the seasons, economic busts turn into economic booms. Whether the economy or the stock market has bottomed out is irrelevant; one day soon the economy will turn around. Will your business be ready to handle the increasing volume of orders smoothly and efficiently, or will you find yourself back in firefighting mode, scrambling to deliver?
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U.S. Economic & Interest Rate Outlook
Are We There Yet?
In the following outlook, economist Paul Kasriel of Northern Trust’s Global Economic Research team answers a question that is perhaps on everyone’s mind — are we there yet? And while the short answer is no, there are signs of moderation in the rate of descent of economic activity. And all things being equal, that’s not too bad.
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PNC Economist Discusses the Economy, Industry Into 2009
With the barrage of negative economic indicators over recent months, the Monitor took the opportunity to sit down with Robert Dye, senior economist of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., to get some perspective on the state of the economy and where the industry is headed as we enter the last months of 2008 and the start of the new year.
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Current Market Turmoil — A ‘Top Ten’ List
In prepared remarks at the Annual Conference of the Institute of International Bankers, U.S. Treasury Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, Clay Lowery delivered his address in the form of a David Letterman-style “Top Ten” list. Lowery categorizes the underlying weakness in the following excerpt, delivered in March 2008.
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Current Credit Crisis Provides Insights & Strategies For Future Cycles
Whether you are a complacent observer or a stunned participant, the current crisis in the credit markets provides a useful reminder that certain business fundamentals don’t change. And before it’s over, there will be many lessons learned from the process.
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U.S. Economy in 2008
Wells Fargo Economist Talks Food, Energy and Economics
As we prepare for upcoming political elections, the media buzzes with animated discussion about the state of the U.S. economy. Suddenly, the price of food and fuel are conversational hot buttons, and economic pundits are expressing fear about reduced consumer spending. If consumers continue to feel their pocketbooks pinched, will their slowed buying habits have a ripple effect across business sectors?
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Not Too Big To Fail
When the Unthinkable Begins to Look Possible
As a villain called greed has taken over the marketplace, inserting itself into our daily lives and creating havoc among all industries, it’s time to seek support from other countries to help fix the problem. According to Dale Kluga, in this global economy, looking toward worldwide help may be the only thing to do to keep our heads above water.
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New Opportunities for the Leasing Industry
Business Incentives in the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008
President Bush and Congress have now forged the 2008 Economic Stimulus Act (ESA) to aid both individuals and companies through the current credit crisis. In this issue, Bill Bosco discusses the effects of the ESA on the leasing and financing industry.
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2008 Outlook of What Manufacturing CFOs Expect
The following article explores the results of the 10th annual survey of mid- and large-sized U.S. manufacturing company CFOs commissioned by Bank of America Business Capital. Not surprisingly, CFOs are most concerned about the impact the deteriorating housing market and oil prices will have on the economy in 2008.
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Storm Watch
The Good, the Bad and the Modest
The Monitor sat down with PNC’s senior economist Robert Dye to help navigate through the potential economic warning signs of recent months, and discuss what lies in store for equipment lessors/lenders as they prepare to say goodbye to 2007 and head into a new year.
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Global Credit Crisis Creates Financial Hurricane Leaving No Asset Class Unscathed
If the National Hurricane Center were to name a hurricane after the global credit crisis that has ravaged the markets over the past several weeks, it would be called “Lester Leverage” — a storm so strong it wipes out billions of dollars of value and sends investors running for cash shelters only to find the doors locked.
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Will There Be a Slowdown?
Commerce Economist Sheds Light on Global Economy, Chance of a Recession
In light of recent acquisitions, such as Cerberus’ buyout of Chrysler, and those within the industry predicting a slowdown — or should we say it recession — Commerce Bank’s chief economist Joel Naroff weighs in on the industry and other concerns facing leasing and the economy as a whole.
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2007 Outlook of What CFOs Expect
Six hundred CFOs were asked their opinions on the economy, financing, M&A activity and their involvement in foreign markets in Bank of America Business Capital’s ninth annual CFO Outlook. Conducted by an independent research firm, respondents were surveyed from late August to early October 2006.
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