At the start of the week, we're getting yet more grim forecasting and data about confidence levels (the worst for more than two years, according to one survey).
For example, at Unilever, CEO Paul Polman has spoken about the need to get rid of quarterly reporting and forecasting so that companies can think more about the long run.
And there is an outside chance that even as many Japanese companies will see reduced sales and profits this year (about one third are so forecasting), they will emerge in next few years more competitive and more profitable after the disaster.
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More matured offering includes energy forecasting and scenario modeling, budgeting and planning, energy rebate management and energy sourcing and procurement.
Perhaps one of the most representative companies of the global economies, Caterpillar posted fourth quarter earnings before the bell on Thursday, more than quadrupling profits and forecasting a better 2011 on continued demand from emerging markets and continued upward momentum in commodity prices.
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If some features are regularly associated with a propensity to become pandemic, then forecasting outbreaks of new viral diseases will become easier and more scientific.
ECONOMIST: The American Association for the Advancement of Science
Barclays is a bit more cautious, forecasting a 150, 000 rise in nonfarm payrolls and a decline in the unemployment rate to 7.8%.
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Wholesale prices are rising, and those for consumer goods were flat in February and may soon be going up more quickly than most pundits are forecasting, as economic recovery broadens.
More and more utilities are tapping the capabilities of advanced metering technologies to enhance operations, forecasting, outage management, program evaluation and other functions.
For example, imagine making your CRM solution a single system where staff and agents can manage forecasting, client details, policies, premiums, underwriting, evidence requests, approvals, and much more.
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Admittedly, forecasting and cost-benefit analysis on big, long-term projects such as this amount to little more than complicated guesswork.
"Older car buyers tend to be more cautious, " says Jesse Toprak, a senior analyst with industry researcher and forecasting company TrueCar.com.
And we can expect more declines in 2013, with analyst Kim Fustier at Credit Suisse forecasting a further 6.1% reduction in oil and gas volumes, from the current 2.3 million boepd, despite a handful of new projects coming on line this year.
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To central bankers, he advocates more rigour in evaluating the impact of their decisions through greater use of economic models and forecasting.
The commission has devised its forecasting model is an attempt to improve the European Union's understanding of its economy, and to help ensure a more nimble response to events.
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