First Quarter Vision Council Economic Trends Report Predicts a Strong 2013

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—"The consensus is strong for macroeconomic rise in 2013," which "is off to a good start and is projected to conclude ahead of 2012 levels," according to the first quarter issue of an exclusive economic trends reporting newsletter from The Vision Council in partnership with the Institute for Trends Research (ITR).    Positive trends cited include: "Business confidence, as measured by the Purchasing Managers Index, is at 54.2, rising above the historic average of 52.7. The stock market is breaking records, and home prices are increasing at a healthy clip, which, for the first time since 2007, could renew feelings of a 'wealth effect.' Consumer expectations ticked up in February just below the 10-year average, and the December-to-January rise in retail sales was the second best on record." However, that was followed by a decline in retail sales in February.   Read the article on VMail