Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Is Alberta Recession Proof?

I look at the US Economy and it concerns me, I think its fair to say that the US is in to, or getting very close to a recession. The problems with the US economy are being driven closer to the edge by the ever increasing cost of fuel.
Which in turn is having a huge financial impact on Alberta. We are looking at an enormous surplus this year in Alberta, I believe every dollar over the budgeted $78 per barrel is worth $415 million dollars to the Alberta Government. Do the math that indicates at $130 a barrel, a surplus of many billions.
The problem with this is the expectations in Alberta of the provincial government to keep increasing their expenditures by 10% or more per year can only be maintained by that strong price of oil.
The same oil that is driving the US economy to the verge of recession. Something will and must give, the price of oil will only stay high as long as political uncertainty in the US and the Middle East is maintained and the demand for oil stays so high. Political uncertainty when will that be fixed? who knows.
Demand that's another issue as the price continues to climb, that will at some point begin to decline. Recently American Airlines cancelled 26% of its flights because they were not economical at today's fuel prices. GMC just announced today it is shutting down four plants that build big trucks and SUV's. Why because people are moving to more fuel efficient vehicles. Its affecting farmers in the US, fishermen in London, truckers in Paris, people all over the world that are reducing their usage of fuel because they have no choice.
What would Alberta's residents, its municipalities, its large cities do, if all of a sudden in a year or two the availability of huge surpluses disappeared?

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hi,
This is very good article and I like this article. Thanks

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