5 Reasons for Economic Optimism in 2009

According to the Kiplinger Business Resource and The Gator Nation

1.    Low Interest Rates—Low interest rates make it cheaper for qualified borrowers to buy or refinance a home, or to take out a loan for a car or college tuition, and Federal Reserve's plan to buy up more debt starting in February will help keep interest rates down.

2.    Low Prices—Cheap oil won't last forever, but it will last several months, as will modest prices for food and other commodities, goods and services.

3.    Low Inflation—Inflation will also be low stretching paychecks.

4.    Federal Spending—Federal spending will be a big help to the economy.  President-elect Obama and Congress plan a stimulus of more than $800 billion in tax cuts and spending as early as this month.  If the money can be put to work quickly—a big if—it will create a few million jobs.  There's also a new sense of public confidence in Washington.  About 70 percent of Americans say they are optimistic that the Obama administration will be able to spur growth.  Economists say confidence is a key element, especially as it relates to consumers.  That's a big plus if Obama can deliver quickly enough to keep the momentum.

5.    Three-rific & Twice As Sweet—Gators defeated Sooners 24-14 bringing home the University of Florida’s third BCS National Championship in school history (second in three years) and making the SEC the first conference to win the BCS National Championship three times in a row since the about the 1940’s.  And, as if that wasn't a good enough reason to cheer for all of 2009, the University of Florida has an incredible economic impact on the Gainesville/Alachua County community.  So what is good for UF economically is good for our community.