It's Heating Up Around Here

Some interesting notes about the economy.

While it is noted that the Commerce Department says the economy slowed from 4.1% to 1.1% in the 4th quarter of 2006, I’m of the opinion that its a shift in when dollars are being allocated, as opposed to an overall slowdown of the�economy.�

The same analyst posted another report two hours later explaining that “sales of new U.S. homes increased a surprising 2.9% in December”, with “new home sales [rising] 6.6% to a record 1.282 million” for all of�2005.� Interestingly, “The median price [of a new home] for all of 2005 rose 7.4% to $237,300.”

A lot of my clients began searches for new employees last month, knowing they would fill them this month, with new budgets and a fresher outlook.� Sales are up across the board for my clients, it appears and, while nobody’s heads are swimming yet, and everybody’s making carefully executed moves and watching their dimes, the clear indicators, to me are that it’s heating up around here:

• Open job orders are up.
• Salaries for open positions are up.
• Positions are harder to fill (people like where they’re working).
• Talented candidates are not available long (it’s easy to find good jobs).