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Groundhog Day: Your economic predictions

Jeremy Hobson and Adriene Hill Feb 2, 2012

It’s Groundhog Day. 

Here at Marketplace, we thought we’d ask some experts what they’re expecting for the next six weeks.

Here’s economist Tara Sinclair at the George Washington University.

Tara Sinclair: I don’t know as a groundhog if I’m going to see my economic shadow because I need to know what’s going on with Europe. And if it’s a cloud over our sky or not.

Another prediciton from Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Harris Private Bank.

Jack Ablin: Poking my head out of my burrow here, I think that things are looking to improve. What we’re looking at is a situation in Europe that’s not deteriorating, it’s really just staying sideways. And the longer the news stays sideways, the more insulated I think we all become.

We also called up Richard DeKaser, with the Parthenon Group.

Richard DeKaser: If I were the groundhog, I think I’d be pretty confused at the moment. The economy’s been muddling along for the past year, and I’d have a hard time figuring out whether that’s going to accelerate into something resembling strength, or deteriorate into something resembling a recession.

And one last Marketplace groundhog: Charles Ballard, an econ professor at Michigan State University.

Charles Ballard: The biggest shadow I think is the European debt situation. So far the Europeans have managed to limp along and not let things spin out of control. I think that’ll continue, but it is a real concern.

Now it’s your turn. Tell us your economic predictions for the next six weeks.

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