Where's the cap ex?! That's what Georgia State University's chief economic prognosticator wants to know. We spoke with the Dr. Rajeev Dhawan about his recent economic outlook, and his big concern is companies spending money on things like software, equipment, and ultimately new employees. “I do believe they will come out to do the investments, but will they come out and do the investments now? I want to see that before I get really optimistic,” Rajeev says.
Despite a slow 2014 start due to Snowpocalypse, Rajeev says metro Atlanta should add 46,800 jobs (including 10,800 premium—or office-based jobs) by year's end. That should accelerate next year to 61,300 new jobs and 67,800 by 2016. Two economic clouds on the horizon? Oil prices is one. But his biggest worry is Wall Street reacting to Federal Reserve head Janet Yellen's plan to raise rates. “The mistake by the Fed that they will raise rates too early and aggressively. That's my biggest worry. Even if they don't do it and people misunderstand signals, that could be just as bad.” (Dating and the economy have similar pitfalls.)
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