For Immediate Release February 10, 2000
Contact: Cristi Allen
callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 817-640-6166

Arlington, Texas – The Decision Analyst Economic Index for January indicates that the U.S. economy began 2000 on solid footing, with no evidence of any Y2K hangover. The Economic Index for the United States stood at 125 at the end of January, about the same level it averaged during all of 1999.

"The strength of the U.S. economy in January was somewhat of a surprise, since some experts were expecting at least a temporary slowdown as consumers and businesses worked off excess inventories accumulated as a hedge against possible Y2K problems," said Jerry W. Thomas, President/CEO of Decision Analyst, Inc. "But, our Economic Index clearly shows that economic activity was brisk during the whole of January."

The Canadian economy is stable when compared to previous months, but is still weaker than the U.S. economy (the Decision Analyst Economic Index for Canada stood at 117 at the close of January, compared to 125 for the U.S.).

Whenever the Decision Analyst Economic Index is greater than 105, it signals an expanding economy. An index in the 95 to 105 range suggests a stagnant economy, and an index below 95 generally indicates economic contraction or recession.

Economic strength was evident in all geographic regions of the U.S., except for some weakness in the Mid-Atlantic region and the East South Central region, as shown on the map on the following page.

The Decision Analyst Economic Index is based on an Internet survey of more than 4,000 households balanced by gender, age and geography. The survey is premised on the assumption that a representative sample of U.S. adults reporting on business activity where they work, as well as personal financial data and trends, provides a snapshot of current U.S. economic activity. The survey is conducted during the last ten days of each month over the Internet. The Economic Index is calculated from nine different economic measurements, using a sophisticated econometric model.

For additional information contact:
Cristi Allen
Publicity
Email: callen@decisionanalyst.com
Phone: 1.800.ANALYSIS (262.5974)
Address: 604 Avenue H East
Arlington, TX 76011

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