Count Down to 2012

December 26, 2011


We are entering the final week of the year 2011. It was a year with expectations of better times. For the most part it is ending as a year in which the economy was like a swimmer in a water polo game that just treads water. The economy did not see great improvement but it also did not see continuing decline.


The news for our Inland Southern California area is encouraging as we see some job growth, a small decline in the jobless rate and an inkling that construction may come alive. Not big changes from the past few years, but small steps are a welcome relief.


Christmas shopping numbers indicate that retailers have had a reprieve from a slow sales year. Yes, the Walmarts and the Coscos and the Dollar stores were particularly favored, but even local boutiques claim to have better than expected sales.


I will be doing housing numbers next week, but I predict housing sales will have been up for the year - not prices, but volume.


It will be interesting to note some positive events of 2011 as we count down to 2012.