Recapping Jim Blasingame’s 2012 predictions, what happened and his score
Here are my 2012 predictions, what happened and my score.
Prediction: U.S. GDP will improve from 1.7% in 2011 to 2%. Actual: The most recent Dept. of Commerce report has 2012 GDP at 2%. +1.
Prediction: Small business optimism will improve. Actual: The NFIB Index showed optimism barely improved, but still better. +1.
Prediction: Unemployment will remain above 8%. Actual: 7.9%. -1.
Prediction: Expect reports of unfilled skilled jobs due to lack of qualified applicants. Actual: Multiple sources indicate up to 1.5 million unfilled skilled jobs openings. +1.
Prediction: The European Central Bank will prevent a financial melt-down, but not a European recession. Actual: The EU recession continues and is deepening. +1.
Prediction: Iraq will prove unworthy of the price paid for its self-determination. Actual: Al Quida has retunred to Iraq and Iranian weapons are crossing Iraq to arm Syria and Hezbollah. +1.
Prediction: Iran nuclear program will hold oil markets hostage. Actual: Avg. 2012 crude prices up to $103 PPB, from 99.85 in 2011. +1.
Prediction: Obama will approve the Keystone Pipeline. Actual: President Obama proved he is more committed to a war on carbon fuel than lower energy costs for businesses and consumers. -1.
Prediction: Occupy Wall Street participants will increasingly look more like anarchists than reformers. Actual: With the motto, World Revolution, OWS is searching for relevance by attaching itself to Wal-Mart worker protests. +1.
Prediction: Wall Street will continue to be a leading indicator only of itself, not the economy. Actual: U.S. economy is barely growing, yet stock indexes are at near record highs. +1.
Prediction: The Supreme Court will rule Obamacare unconstitutional. Actual: Chief Justice Roberts literally rewrote the law for a contrived ruling. -1.
Prediction: Mitt Romney will be the Republican presidential nominee. Actual: +1.
Prediction: Joe Biden will not be on Obama’s 2012 ticket. Actual: They actually did talk about it. -1.
Prediction: Barack Obama will be a one-term president. Actual: -1.
Prediction: Republicans will retain control of the U.S. House. Actual: +1.
Prediction: Democrats will lose control of the U.S. Senate. Actual: -1.
Prediction: Alabama’s defense will defeat LSU’s in the BCS Championship. Actual: Bama 21, LSU zip. +1.
Write this on a rock … Only 64% accuracy this year. Underestimated the president's Chicago machine and overestimated the electorate.
Jim Blasingame is creator and host of the Small Business Advocate Show. Copyright 2012, author retains ownership. All Rights Reserved.
