As U.S. Housing, So Goes the Economy

The U.S. economy will not see any significant change until these housing numbers rebound. The number of housing starts has never seen such a slump as it's seen since 2007.  In July 2011 there were 604,000 new starts and in January 2006 it was at 2,273,000—a 73% dive!  Of course, that 2 million plus was over-building, represents the great American bubble and was completely unsustainable, but it could be 5-10 years before it bounces back to half that number!  What does that mean?  Expect dismal growth and a dismal job market as the new norm for the foreseeable future, the U.S.'s loss decade.  I just hope it's as good as Japan's lost decade where unemployment really never got worse than 5 or 6%—if only the U.S. could be so lucky!