With reports
like these --
"Small
Businesses See Large Challenges" (MarketWatch)
Recent
sentiment surveys underscore pessimism, uncertainty
Small-business
owners have a dim view of the future, according to a gauge of their optimism
for June that stands “solidly in recession territory,” the
National Federation of Independent Business reported Tuesday.
The
NFIB’s barometer ticked down for a fourth consecutive month in June,
reflecting pessimism about future business conditions as well as expected
sales. The survey’s participants, most of whom have fewer than 40
employees, are concerned about the government, among other issues, said Bill
Dunkelberg, NFIB’s chief economist, in a statement.
Small
businesses say, 'What recovery?'
A huge force in
this economy is being left out of the picture two years into the economic
recovery.
“Between
the deluge of new regulations and a Washington policy agenda that is largely
ignorant of Main Street needs, stubbornly low consumer spending, and grave
concern among small firms about the federal budget, there is not much to be
optimistic about as a small-business owner,” Dunkelberg said.
"Nearly
Two-Thirds of Americans Sense Double-Dip Recession" (HousingWire)
Roughly 63% of
middle-class Americans surveyed by a consumer psychology consulting firm
believe the U.S. economy slipped into a double-dip recession, up from 50% one
year ago.
First Command
Financial Services commissioned Sentient Decision Science to survey roughly
1,000 U.S. consumers between the ages of 25 to 70 with annual household
incomes of at least $50,000 for the quarterly First Command Financial
Behaviors index.
Three-quarters
of those consumers who believe a double-dip recession is underway believe it
will be more than one year before the economy begins to recover. One in five
consumers said it would be take more than three
years.
"Americans
aren’t looking for a meaningful recovery any time soon,” said
Scott Spiker, CEO of First Command Financial
Services. "The Index reveals a widespread belief that the U.S. has
already experienced a recession and a short-lived recovery and is now
experiencing a second recession. This conviction is being fueled by a host of
pressing economic worries that do not come with quick resolutions, further
intensifying consumer uncertainty and concern."
"CEOs
Less Confident About Economy"
(The Business Journal)
NEW YORK -- The
nation's CEOs have turned far more pessimistic about current economic
conditions. Only 33% say conditions are better compared to six months ago,
down from 85% last quarter.
The Conference
Board measure of CEO confidence, which had risen in the first quarter of this
year, retreated sharply in the second quarter. The measure now reads 55, down
from 67 last quarter (a reading of more than 50
points reflects more positive than negative responses).
"CEO
confidence cooled considerably in the second quarter, a reflection of a
sluggish U.S. economy," said Lynn Franco, director of The Conference
Board consumer research center. "Looking ahead, expectations are that
this slow pace of economic growth will continue. Regarding the outlook for
profits over the next 12 months, the news was a bit more favorable, with
about 70% of CEOs anticipating profit increases."
In assessing
their own industries, business leaders also were more negative. Now, just 40%
say conditions have improved, compared with 61% in the first quarter.
CEOs' optimism
about the short-term outlook declined sharply as well. Currently, 43% foresee
an improvement in economic conditions over the next six months, down from 66%
last quarter. Expectations for their own industries are about as pessimistic,
with 44% expecting conditions to improve in the months ahead, down from 49%
last quarter. --
I wouldn't be
surprised to see more developments like this --
"Jobless
Man Offers Hunters Human Prey" (Atlanta
Journal Constitution)
It’s
tough finding even an odd job these days.
You'll have to
be a good shot to bag this wily woodsman.
That’s
why Utah-area resident Mork Encino, who swears this
is his real name, created the oddest job for himself.
Encino, 28, on
his website, advertises he’ll be human prey for marksmen with $10,000
to spare.
It’ll
cost you an extra $2k to hunt him in the nude.
He’s not
worried about the steep price driving off customers.
“I’m
looking for a true god[bleep] Money Bags, okay? 10K
is nothing to these boys. They leave tips on restaurant checks like that.
They drop that type of scratch just because. They’ll pay that money
just to rub it in my FACE and show me how meaningless it truly is to the
likes of them,” he writes on huntme4sport.com.
On Twitter,
Encino says he’s “pro prey looking for a change,” but
admits he’s not willing to die for the cash. Instead, he wants the
website, which he calls “a product of my desperation,” to land
him a normal job.
“I’m
hoping someone will offer me a better opportunity than being shot in the
face,” said Encino.
Desperate times
call for desperate measures?
Michael J. Panzner
|