Spending will be hurt by another dip in consumer debt
Consumer spending is expected to remain weak after the release Monday of a Federal Reserve report that showed consumer borrowing falling for a ninth straight month in October. Consumer credit was down at an annual rate of $3.5 billion in October. Economists had predicted a $9.3 billion decline. BusinessWeek/The Associated Press (12/7)
Next crisis to be in commercial real estate, experts say
A crisis looms for the commercial real estate market in 2010, then for the government-debt market, particularly in the U.S., investment managers said. "I think the next shoe to drop, which will be the world's biggest shoe, is the continued decline of the dollar and ultimately the breaking of the U.S. government market, which will set the other markets on another terrible path," said Steve Shenfeld, president of MidOcean Credit Partners. The danger of default on commercial real estate also is a major threat, Shenfeld said. Reuters (12/7)
