Forecasts of Selected Business Cycle Indicators for the U.S. Economy*

 

                                                 [Philip Rothman, Department of Economics, East Carolina University]

 

 

                                                                   

 

 

Below are forecast probabilities for the growth rate in annual real GDP, the level of the annual civilian unemployment

rate, and core measures of the CPI and the PCE price index inflation rates. These forecasts are based on time series

bootstrap estimates of the probability density function for these variables; see, for example, this authoritative survey article.

 

 

                                          2012:Q2 Forecasts (Computed April 2012)

 

                                                                             Table 1: Real GDP

 

 

Probability of Indicated Percent Change in Real (Chain-Weighted) GDP

 

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

+6 percent or more

0.04

3.12

3.76

4.64

+5.0 to +5.9 percent

0.16

4.96

5.88

6.28

+4.0 to +4.9 percent

1.36

14.52

14.00

13.24

+3.0 to +3.9 percent

20.48

22.12

20.72

22.00

+2.0 to +2.9 percent

61.08

25.40

24.32

21.36

+1.0 to +1.9 percent

16.16

17.08

17.52

16.24

+0.0 to +0.9 percent

0.68

8.96

8.00

9.60

-1.0 to -0.1 percent

0.04

2.84

3.72

4.32

-2.0 to -1.1 percent

0.00

0.64

1.28

1.44

-3.0 to -2.1 percent

0.00

0.28

0.56

0.52

Decline more than 3 percent

0.00

0.08

0.24

0.36

TOTAL

100

100

100

100

 

 

 

                                                                        Table 2: Unemployment Rate

 

 

Probability of Indicated Annual Civilian Unemployment Rate

 

2012

2013

2014

2015

11.0 percent or more

0.00

0.04

0.04

0.04

10.0 to 10.9 percent

0.00

0.40

0.80

0.72

9.5 to 9.9 percent

0.00

                 1.40

1.56

1.76

9.0 to 9.4 percent

0.48

4.64

4.40

3.60

8.5 to 8.9 percent

14.72

13.04

10.04

8.00

8.0 to 8.4 percent

76.84

25.00

17.04

15.16

7.5 to 7.9 percent

7.96

26.72

22.40

19.44

7.0 to 7.4 percent

0.00

16.68

16.76

19.04

6.0 to 6.9 percent

0.00

11.20

19.88

22.36

Less than 6.0 percent

0.00

0.88

7.08

9.88

TOTAL

100

100

100

100

 

 

                                                        Table 3: Core CPI and PCE Price Index Inflation Rates

 

 

 

 

Probability of indicated percent change in core CPI

 

 

 

 

Probability of indicated percent change in core PCE

 

 

11Q4-12Q4

12Q4-13Q4

 

11Q4-12Q4

12Q4-13Q4

4 percent or more

0.76

12.16

4 percent or more

0.00

1.92

3.5 to 3.9 percent

1.56

8.12

3.5 to 3.9 percent

0.00

3.12

3.0 to 3.4 percent

7.72

13.00

3.0 to 3.4 percent

0.40

6.56

2.5 to 2.9 percent

18.00

15.80

2.5 to 2.9 percent

3.20

11.68

2.0 to 2.4 percent

33.60

15.32

2.0 to 2.4 percent

19.48

18.60

1.5 to 1.9 percent

26.36

13.88

1.5 to 1.9 percent

41.96

22.32

1.0 to 1.4 percent

9.44

10.60

1.0 to 1.4 percent

29.96

18.08

0.5 to 0.9 percent

2.24

4.48

0.5 to 0.9 percent

4.84

10.32

0.0 to 0.4 percent

0.24

2.96

0.0 to 0.4 percent

0.16

5.32

Will decline

0.08

2.68

Will decline

0.00

2.08

TOTAL

100

100

TOTAL

100

100

 

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Last updated: April 28, 2012. Link to: Philip Rothman's Home Page

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