
Economists are no longer talking about a U.S. recession but a deep recession after figures yesterday showed business sentiment continued to plummet in early February.
Forecasts for a more severe retreat came as CIBC World Markets forecast U.S. house prices would end up sliding 20% before the dust has settled on the American housing meltdown. CIBC estimated 50% of U.S. homeowners who took out below-prime mortgages in 2006 will end up in a negative-equity position -- owing more than their house is worth.
"There seems to be a sense of a very deep-seated collapse in the economy," said Michael Englund, chief economist at Action Economics.
Wholesale prices up sharply - not a good sign too.
160 billion bank baleout, another bad sign. The avoidance of the word 'depression' is understandable. Why face reality in an election year.
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