I signed up for a trial subscription to StratFor which includes daily intelligence brief by email, and weekly Global Market briefs. Today’s had this to say:
Gross domestic product growth slowed in the third quarter in most of the world’s major economies, with the exception the United States, where the 3.7 percent annualized rate of growth was still well above the 15-year average of 3.0 percent. Europe and Japan appear to be teetering on the brink of posting zero percent growth (having marked 0.3 percent and 0.1 percent in the third quarter, respectively), and—-since the third quarter is considered to be the best indicator of the next year’s performance—-any improvement in their economic performance is now almost exclusively subject to external factors.
I have a lot of respect for the analysis coming out of StratFor. They have shown themselves to be far better attuned to the international political and economic scene than many of our government professionals. It is a subscription well worth the time if you follow those things. Check their trial offer and see for yourself.