Maureen Allyn Quotations

What we're getting are increasing signs of caution on the part of consumer. You simply can't be in this society and read all the headlines about job losses going on without wondering if this is going to apply to you sometime.

We're growing vigorously, and I think that the bond market is right to be a little bit concerned about this. It's not the data we've gotten, but the data we didn't get. We didn't get a slowdown in the second quarter. That, I think, is going to make the Fed very nervous.

The price we have to pay for all this is someplace. Early in the century, we're going to see a real good old-fashioned panic of the kind we haven't seen in a long time.

I am really concerned that one of these months we are going to get a bad inflation number. I think the markets have to be very nervous in front of these inflation numbers.

Greenspan's testimony to Congress is always an event and probably more so this time than usual. We are looking at the Fed with a bias to tightening and we have to get some warning of whether he is going to act on that or not. So what I am looking for is a clear signal.

Growth took them by surprise last year so I think this is paying back for all that growth we had last year.

I thought the first six months of the year would be a white-knuckle ride. But monetary policy is as effective as ever. That money takes time to get in there, but I think it will stabilize things. We shouldn't expect anything to happen until July at earliest, though, and we'll have a few more months of holding our breath here.

I think we're going to have to begin to believe that we're not in an inflationary environment. Sooner or later it's going to sink in.

I think we are heading into the worst of it. Investors think there we're heading towards a recovery in the next six months and I hope that they are right, but I just don't see the valuations for a huge rally going forward.

I think that's got to be a better-than-even chance at this point. We know from their discussions that they were very, very nervous. This isn't going to calm them down any.

I think they'll cut a quarter point, like everybody else in the market. The markets have gotten a pretty good read on what's going on, and I take my cue from them.

Just as a warning: People better start bracing for higher oil prices later in the year.

I think companies have gotten a little behind.

People may not be feeling all that good, but they are trying to cheer themselves up. They're not constrained yet, but I do think it is going to set in. The bear market has taken a big, big bite out of wealth, and history tells us when that happens people do sort of cut back.

Volatility should be expected. At some point, really low inflation is bad for earnings. If you can't raise prices you can't bring in the earnings Wall Street wants.

With profits in such a tailspin, I'm revising down my capital expenditure outlook for the next six to nine months, and (I see) almost zero job growth for rest of this year.

We just don't see the wage pressures and I think the bond market is so happy because that means there really isn't any threat of inflation out there. Remember all those terrible surprises we used to get on Fridays? It's about time the bond market got a good one.

Employers are reluctant to hire people who can't do the job they want and they're reluctant to pay more.

There's a difference between being stable and starting to grow again. I think that's what we're hearing from companies, too - the worst may be over, but we really don't see the upside coming, and that's what these jobless claims suggest.

Realistically, they've done a lot already. The economy may be sleepy, but you don't need to hit it with everything you've got.

Private sector credit from 1999 through the first half of 2001 was adding $1.2 trillion per year. It was the mother of all credit expansions.

Companies have to learn to live with keeping their costs down. They're not going to get pricing power not in our lifetime, I'm afraid. The world is just much too competitive.

You really don't want to do any sudden moves. The economy is doing really well. Why fix it? It doesn't need fixing.

This is still very flat inflation. We do not have an inflationary worry.

This may be what throws us into recession.

At least it's a beginning... They'll do more if they need to.

A strong dollar takes away companies' pricing power because imported goods come in a lot cheaper, and it impacts earnings because they can't raise prices.

It's not a dramatic fallout, and I don't see any evidence of panic. It's much more of a gradual adjustment; people have to diversify a little more. It just slows things down a little bit.

The August jobs report gave Wall Street just what it wanted.

It was just the sheer demand of people wanting stuff and the demand of supplying it.

The rest of the world is not in good shape and exporting to them is a tough slog.

This is kind of capping a string of fairly strong numbers, and I'm even going to have to boost my estimate of fourth quarter GDP up closer to 3 percent. We know the Fed is sitting on the edge of its seat. It's going to make everybody a bit nervous.

That's all got to be cleaned up. The stock market's going to struggle until that happens, and the economy at large will feel like it's moving through molasses, even though it will be moving forward.

The Fed is very happy to see this kind of stabilization, but they're going to be worried about inflation and credit. Honestly, I think the Fed understands how fragile a position the economy is in because when you slow down this fast it sets a lot of stuff in motion. They want to get ahead of that and make sure it doesn't get worse.

I have never thought that what a government wants its currency to do makes a hill of difference. What's holding the dollar up is a desire to put money here and a faith in Greenspan and Corporate America. That's all psychology, and it can turn on a dime.

If you can lay off all those people at GM and still have 66,000 new jobs created last month, that's really pretty strong.

I really do believe this technological revolution qualifies as a big one that is going to have a long-lasting impact.

I have to think there will be more layoffs in the pipeline.