Economist Yandle’s forecast for 2016

The noted Clemson-based economist Bruce Yandle uses multiple financial numbers and indicators to assess where the economy is headed, but he also relies a lot on what he sees.  And he does not reject an individual’s feelings to help gauge economic vitality.  It’s why that whenever he drives into Oconee County to speak to a business forum of the Economic Alliance he takes a hard look at how busy conveniences stations are in the morning—especially to see how many “white trucks” are filling their gas tanks.  Because it’s those in the white trucks who are headed out to job sites and service calls.  Yandle said he liked what he saw this morning, an indicator that the construction industry severely impacted by the 2008 recession is bouncing back.  He began his talk by saying how lucky he feels to be in Char-lanta—the corridor connected by I-85 that represents what he says is the country’s third largest regional economy.  Yandle does not underplay the consequences that China and Europe can have for the U-S economy.  Still, he projects 2016 to be a year much like 2015, even though the first half of the year could be rocky.  Long-range Yandle believes 2019, three years from now, will see a recession, but nothing like the Great Recession of 2008.