The article “Expect ‘longish’ period of slow growth” on Straits Times 3rd Jan 2012 gives a very important reminder on how one should plan for the near future.

Nobody can predict what will happen next

Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang does not expect an economic crisis, but a longish period of slow growth between 1 to 3%. The Europe crisis management and recent positive economic data from the US points to a global economy that has the potential to recovery, but can also turn for the worse at a whim. The constant see sawing of positive and negative news as well as data shows that nobody has the ability to predict what will happen next. Governments can only react at best with policies, but they will always be too slow.

While Inflation Reached 5.7%, Core Inflation Stayed at 2.4%

Many people were alarmed when inflation ...