***NEWS RELEASE***
For Immediate Release
January 9, 2017
CONTACT:
Beth Harrison, Hamilton Strategies, 610.584.1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, or Deborah Hamilton, 215.815.7716 or 610.584.1096, ext. 102
Why the Economy is Looking Up in 2017
Financial Expert and Nationally Syndicated Host Dan Celia Says Americans and Small Business Owners Have a Positive Outlook
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Americans certainly have many reasons to be optimistic about 2017, starting with the markets and the economy.
And evidence of that optimism can be seen in a variety of ways.
In a new op-ed in Townhall.com, financial expert and nationally syndicated radio and television host Dan Celia cites a recent Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, which found that post-election investor optimism hit a nine-year high in November.
“This cannot be solely credited to the election,” writes Celia, who is a regular contributor to Townhall, “but it is the third-straight quarter of improving sentiment; nine months of this kind of trajectory certainly represents a positive trend. I often talk about the National Business Survey, which is a survey of thousands of small businesses across the country. The National Federation of Independent Businesses conducts this online sampling each month. Last month, for the first time in ages, confidence in the economy had crossed into positive territory. We had not seen this kind of news coming from the NFIB since 2007. Indeed, this is the best news on the economy in a very long time. These are small business owners and entrepreneurs who have their ear to Main Street as good—if not better—than anyone else.”
Celia adds that with economic indicators on the upswing, consumer confidence will climb as well. In fact, it’s currently at the highest level since August 2001.
“To me,” he says, “consumer confidence is one of the most important factors to consider as an indication of where things might be going.”
The Wells Fargo/Gallup poll also showed the highest rate of business optimism in eight years—and it was no mere blip on the radar screen. The reading jumped from 68 to 80 over three months; compared to a year prior, the index increased by 48 percent. It also indicated that 58 percent of small business owners believe that revenue will increase during the next 12 months. Thirty-five percent plan to increase their spending and 36 percent expect to hire new workers.
“Maybe we can’t give Donald Trump all the credit for this optimism,” Celia says. “Still, the idea that we will soon welcome a pro-growth president who is looking to cut taxes helps—so does a president that most people believe truly cares about America and the American people.”
Celia adds that there is a negative side to all the optimism—and that is that stocks are still incredibly overvalued. He predicts that the market is in for a correction in stock prices, especially as they are far more overvalued today than in the months leading up to the election.
One of two things will happen, Celia says. One, a correction will occur in the first half of the year, or two, traders, institutional investors and even the average Joe believe that growth of the economy will pick up—so much so, that this growth will catch up with current valuations, thereby ending any thoughts of a correction.
“The real difference between a correction—or even a recession—compared with the likely stagnation of an Obama or Clinton administration, gives us great cause for optimism,” Celia concludes. “The combination of a sane fiscal policy coming out of Washington, D.C., and a rational, pro-growth tax code gives us reason to believe that any downturn in the markets will be temporary. There’s a lot of light at the end of that tunnel. It means that we actually have leadership likely to get things moving in the right direction—and very quickly.”
In his ministry, Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries (FISM, www.financialissues.org), Celia hones in on biblical investing and advises Christians how they can honor God by choosing companies that are not associated with immoral or anti-biblical issues, such as having stake in abortion, pornography, same-sex marriage or other matters that should be concerning to Christians. Through FISM, Celia educates investors by researching the organizations that corporations support and then encourages biblically responsible investing so that God is honored, especially as Americans plan for the new year financially.
“Financial Issues” recently began streaming on its own YouTube Channel, Financial Issues with Dan Celia. The ministry also recently introduced the new Financial Issues app; learn more here. Besides more than 600 radio stations, “Financial Issues” is seen on the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) television network, reaching 45 million households, BizTV, which reaches millions more in major markets, and Dove-TV in the Pacific Northwest. To view Celia’s recent show clips, click here.
Daily, Celia addresses important financial headlines, takes calls from around the country, and focuses on current economic trends and critical mass in corporate America. He accurately predicts rises and falls in the U.S. and global economies. He also hones in on godly financial stewardship when talking to thousands who want to honor God with their finances.
A financial expert and author backed by decades of financial experience, Celia is personally in touch with thousands of people each week from across the country. He has worked for 35 years as an entrepreneur and businessman, and has developed a biblically responsible system of financial management with great success. Celia started his radio program in 1997 and has interviewed newsmakers, experts, lawmakers and presidential candidates. He speaks at conferences, town hall meetings and investment conferences around the country, is the author of six books and publishes a weekly newsletter.
For more on Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries, visit its web site at www.financialissues.org, its Facebook page, the YouTube channel, Financial Issues with Dan Celia or its Twitter feed, @financialissues.
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To interview Dan Celia of Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries, contact Beth Harrison, 610-584-1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, or Deborah Hamilton at 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096, ext. 102.
Dan Celia is president and CEO of Financial Issues Stewardship Ministries and host of the national syndicated radio talk program “Financial Issues,” heard daily on more than 600 stations across the country and in millions of homes through NRB-TV, BIZ-TV and others. FISM believes that only revival will return America to its Judeo-Christian heritage and biblical values.
