December 20, 2007

Real gross domestic product -the output of goods and services produced by labor and property in the United States -increased at an annual rate of 4.9% in the third quarter 2007, according to final estimates released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the second quarter, real
GDP increased 3.8%.
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The acceleration in real GDP growth in the third quarter primarily reflected accelerations in exports, in PCE, and in private inventory investment that were partly offset by an upturn in imports, a larger decrease in residential fixed investment, and a deceleration in nonresidential structures.
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The increase in real GDP in the third quarter primarily reflected positive contributions from exports, personal consumption expenditures (PCE), private inventory …

The U.S. manufacturing sector will face turbulent times next year due in large part to the continuing housing collapse.&nbsp ; As a result, the economic landscape will remain highly volatile in 2008 before rebounding in 2009, according to the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI Quarterly Industrial Outlook, a report that analyzes 27 major industries.
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Housing starts were down 24 percent in the third quarter of 2007.&nbsp ; They are expected to fall another 28 percent in 2008, according to Daniel J. Meckstroth, chief economist for the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, and author of the analysis.&nbsp ; The good news is that the trend is likely to reverse itself in 2009, when housing starts are expected to see 34 percent growth to 1.3 million units.
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On an annual basis, MAPI …