http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldtonight/2008/12/my_predictions_for_2009.html en-gb 30 Sat 19 Dec 2009 03:32:15 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldtonight/2008/12/my_predictions_for_2009.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldtonight/2008/12/my_predictions_for_2009.html?page=16#comment4 Your predictions for the global economy are highly likely to be correct, as businesses are reacting in a way that will cause a downward spiral that will be very hard to stop.The problem we are facing does not stand up to scrutiny. We can expect that housing and the car industry suffer badly as most people require a loan to buy a house or a car. This is not true of most other products. Yet most manufacturers are suffering a rapid decline in demand and as a consequence are planning to lay people off or are already doing this. This action of course will reduce retail demand further and cause the spiral.What is probably happening and in certain industries the evidence checked supports this actual retail demand is not down but retailers are reducing stock just in case. This is casing a wave of reduced demand through the whole supply chain.If companies react by laying off in a big way this chain reaction will continue and take a considerable time to reduce.If companies really understand and do not lay of they will be able to respond rapidly as the shops have to start restocking.This is not my analysis it is Dr Ei Goldratt’s the author of The Goal and Business guru – have a look at his draft analysis on Scribd if your are interested. http://www.scribd.com/doc/11386578/The-Power-of-C-and-E-24janJohn Tripp Mon 26 Jan 2009 15:03:30 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldtonight/2008/12/my_predictions_for_2009.html?page=12#comment3 Robin,From my favourite Wall Streeter:"THE WORST THING ABOUT THE DAWN OF A NEW YEAR, besides the aching hangover induced by celebration of its arrival, is the avalanche of forecasts that accompanies it. Clairvoyance runs rampant, and in these days of unremitting assault by hydra-headed media, there's no escaping it.The dire straits in which both the economy and the stock market find themselves has sparked vast interest and more than a little apprehension as to what the year ahead has in store and imbued predictions with a fervor and urgency rivaled only by speculation as to who will win the Super Bowl and will the Yankees' payroll exceed the combined GDP of Luxembourg and Monaco."Keeping good companyed Sat 03 Jan 2009 14:51:14 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldtonight/2008/12/my_predictions_for_2009.html?page=8#comment2 Robin, "enjoy the company of family and friends; admire the trees and the flowers in parks and gardens; count your blessings. And remember: only fools try to predict the future."I'll second that!Slainte!ed Sat 03 Jan 2009 11:06:32 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldtonight/2008/12/my_predictions_for_2009.html?page=4#comment1 I cannot help wondering about one of your predictions. The gloss may start to wear off the image Brown has so far maintained about being a world leader of vision about how to deal with the global economy. He may just be tempted to go to the country before Labour's inevitable downturn in popularity starts to bite. Fri 02 Jan 2009 08:52:34 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldtonight/2008/12/my_predictions_for_2009.html?page=0#comment0 You forgot about The Comet in February... Fri 02 Jan 2009 02:21:53 GMT+1