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Growing economy? What next?

Since late 2000 and particularly post 9/11, there is no doubt that the overall economy has been tough for many companies, and many industries. Ours, not without its problems, has been one of the more vibrant, and I shudder to think what it could have been like if the housing market had not been so strong.

It seemed for a while everything was going down the tubes; however, after three years of plague and pestilence, the tide maybe turning. Recent signs suggest that the next wave of the economy is about to begin. After a shaky start to the year, we are starting to see increasing confidence that the bottom of the curve is angled in the right direction.

Housing numbers and projections look strong. The impact of the tax cuts is now being felt, and while unemployment is still high, new job creation is showing up. Coming from l0 years in the tech industry, I have been a great believer that the true sign of turnaround will be when we see the technology market growing again. Suggestions are that we are near. Large capital investments are a sign that our business leaders believe in the turnaround.

The stock market is growing steadily, and I suggest that this growth will continue steadily and not be as spectacular as the excesses we all saw in the late '90s. It is partly because too many of us have been burned, and perhaps we will be more careful going forward. However, if

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ALAN OAKES publisher ajoakes@aol.com