17 Quotes by Ralph Kauffman

The overall indication in December is continued economic growth in the non-manufacturing sector with a cautiously optimistic outlook as we enter 2006.

This second month of non-manufacturing growth, at a higher rate of growth than in November, appears to indicate that November's growth was not entirely due to a rebound from October's low point following the events of Sept. 11,

Even though the index has been going down, prices are at pretty high levels. It appears that the recent drop-off in oil prices in particular is probably behind the drop this month, but the list of commodities that are up in price is a pretty long list and it's pretty broad.

Concern about the continued high level of energy prices and its impact on economic activity is again the number one topic on which survey respondents commented.

The service economy is still growing at a reasonable rate, but at least in January it wasn't accelerating. The rate of growth slowed down some.

Companies are willing to hire more people because they have confidence that at least in the near future, business will be strong.

It's in the high end of the range definitely on the prices paid, ... (Our members are) blaming it all on the cost of oil running up.

The main reason for the decline in the price index in December was the decline in energy prices -- while the index is down, it's still at a historically high level.