This Week's Herman Trend Alert Engaged Employees Increase Bottom Line Performance

The Herman Trend Alert June 17, 2009 Consumer Confidence Looking Up For the fourth month in a row, The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index™ has increased sharply in the United States. The Index now stands at 54.9 (1985=100), up almost 35 percent from in April (40.8). Their Present Situation Index increased to 28.9 from 25.5 last month and their Expectations Index rose to 72.3 from 51.0 in April. The Consumer Confidence Index is now at its highest level in eight months. The moderate improvement in current conditions is reflected in continued gains in the Present Situation Index. Growth in the second quarter is likely to be less negative than in the first. While confidence is still weak historically speaking, consumers are significantly less pessimistic than they were earlier this year. Concurrently, expectations are that business conditions, the labor market, and incomes will improve in the coming months--- good news for business executives everywhere on the planet. In another important study, released last week by Harris Interactive, we see more indications of recovery in the US market. More US residents are now saying they will eat out and spend on entertainment (from 74 percent to 66 percent). The entertainment industry fared slightly better: from 74 percent to 64 percent and that is an improvement of over 15 percent. While the majority of people are still inclined to decrease spending on eating out and entertainment, the numbers are better than they had been two months ago. In other words, though the numbers are still not good, they are not as bad as have been. Big-ticket items continue to experience problems with more than three-quarters of people saying they are not likely to buy a new computer (79 percent), move to a different residence (81 percent), buy or lease a new car, truck or van (88 percent), purchase a house or condo (91 percent), start a new business (92 percent) or buy a boat or recreational vehicle (95 percent). These numbers are all very similar to March, so people are still not ready to spend on the large purchases. While these signs are positive, we believe that we can expect only modest gains in the US economy for the foreseeable future and that will drive continued pain elsewhere around the globe. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF... What would happen if 25% of your top performers left in the next year? According to a recent study from The Corporate Executive Board, that may well happen to you! Turnover costs A LOT, especially when you lose top performers, and it comes right off the bottom line. Let The Herman Group and its team of very experienced consultants help you address your turnover issues right away. We have an impressive track record and stand ready to help you. Call Carol at 336-210-3547 for a no-obligation conference call. FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL Discover what's really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. BUSINESS IS PICKING UP Most employers are unprepared. The recovery will bring a new set of challenges for employers that have been in prolonged contracted mode. They will need more skilled workers or will need now to begin to upskill their current staffs. But organizations can not engage in Strategic Workforce Planning, when they don't know how. That's where The Herman Group can help. We can help you with your "People Review"----large or small---so that you will know who you will need and when you will need them... and we can also guide you to the best sources for the people you will need. For more information, call Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail joyce@hermangroup.com. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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