Economy And Economics Quotations | Page 2

Based on prior experience, consumers will travel by car this summer, as long as the economy remains strong. There may be some moves away from big vehicles, which we've already seen to some degree, but gasoline costs won't curtail travel.

Bay Area public services have not kept pace with demands of our economy and growing population. Freeways are jammed, commutes are longer, the power supply is vulnerable to a hot summer, and water systems could snap in a major earthquake. Well aware of this, business leaders can be optimistic that negotiations between the Governor and the Legislature on an infrastructure bond are focusing on what gets funded not if there's a need for funding.

We need clear evidence that the economy is growing very strongly for the Fed to raise rates above 4.5 percent if you want to get much further gains in the dollar.

Greenspan talked very little about the current state of the economy and was really admonishing lawmakers, and he made it very clear that there will be no interest-rate cut announced after the meeting on Sept. 24. I think this may have disappointed some investors hoping for a rate cut or something more aggressive to help stocks.

Greenspan's objective is to keep the U.S. economy expanding for as long a stretch as possible. That's why he's being so prudent in his speeches and that's why he'll adjust monetary policy to allow for that.

(Greenspan's) a proponent of what productivity gains have brought to this new economy, ... Of all the things he says, the least hawkish is when he talks about productivity and the new economy. In terms of Wall Street's reaction, I wouldn't say we could garner anything but a positive feeling.

Has the Canadian economy and its' workforce been elevated? Are they being asked to do more? This is what we wanted to know. Eighty-six per cent said yes, absolutely'; employees are doing things they never had to do before . . . these same people told us they need the right tools and that they can't just use a telephone and desktop software anymore.

The productivity number is key toward determining whether the economy can show some stabilization. We've seen weakening numbers, which hasn't helped, but there is no inflation story to talk about here.

The productivity advance will also serve as a powerful backstop for the U.S. dollar, as it creates an environment that is good for the rates of return on U.S. assets, especially compared to other countries where both productivity growth and economic growth are lower than in the U.S.,

The outlook for the economy will become a focal point this week.