Reply #14: Here's another prediction for the coming year........ [View All]

H.J. Cummins: Experts predict 2007 will bring a slowdown in state, U.S. job growth

...Baker said the national unemployment rate will top 6 percent by the end of next year, partly caused by lower home values quashing the equity borrowing that has fueled so much spending recently.

Minnesota state economist Tom Stinson predicted that the state will add 20,000 jobs between the fourth quarter of this year and that of 2007. He projects 9,000 more jobs in health care and social assistance, and 6,000 more in professional and business services, but 6,000 fewer in construction and 2,000 fewer in manufacturing.

"There's a bunch of stuff that's less than sunny going on," he said

But then there's the Feds view:

The Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis is on the optimistic side of projections for the Upper Midwest.

Full article is at : http://www.startribune.com/168/story/901305.html