While the IRS predicted average hold times in 2010 of 12 minutes, those hold times grew to nearly 17 minutes in 2012.

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While always optimistic, the National Association of Realtors recently predicted average home prices would rise by 5% this year and another 5% next year.

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Real GDP declined by 9.9% between 2007 and 2009, and this year unemployment is predicted to average 13.7%.

ECONOMIST: Ireland's economy