Escaping the Storm (2013)

commercial airline escaping a super-cell over Montana

Looking into the future is always a dangerous practice, but the 2013 economic outlook is “stormy.” 

By the end of this year the US should know if it escaped the clouds or not. 

Here is a general forecast for a perfect global storm which may occur in 2013 (Roubini):

Factors that might contribute to a massive global recession:

1. disorderly breakup of the Eurozone b/c of monetary instability.
2. another recession in the U.S. (2013) b/c of gov't instability.
3. slow growth in China, hard landing.
4. emerging markets stumble (Brazil, India, Russia, Africa, where growth is stalling).
5. Middle Eastern risk of military confrontation re: nuclear proliferation.

There is still time to fend off these threats or even escape by heading the other direction like the airplane in the picture above; however, reading these predictions this morning gave me pause about prospects for 2013.

Fasten your seatbelts, and place seats & tray-tables in the fully upright position. There could be some turbulence up ahead!

©Mark H. Pillsbury