Isn’t it amazing what a couple of 40+ degree days in March will do to boost your spirits? (I would feel this way EVEN IF my Archadeck business wasn’t directly related to offering products and services used primarily during warm weather…!) The deep ruts of alley ice that have been wreaking havoc on my low-wheelbase vehicle are just about completely melted and it finally seems as though we may have reached the turning point where it appears spring will yet again triumph over Old Man Winter.
Of course, we all know the cycle of seasons is a function of Earth’s position relative to the sun during a 365 day period. Although each season has somewhat predictable averages for temperature and precipitation, significant variations can occur on a year-to-year basis. (Our friends north of the border can attest to the challenges this can bring– Olympians were trying to sled, ski and skate in 50 degree weather… )
Interestingly, our economy operates under a cyclical pattern as well, although it is much less consistent and predictable than the changing of the seasons. For many (most?) of us, the current economic “season” we are in feels like the most brutal and unforgiving winter Arctic that any of us have ever experienced.
In the same way that the worst of “seasonal” winter appears to now be behind Minnesotans, there is a glimmer of good news that the current “economic” winter is beginning to thaw in the Twin Cities as well.
Forbes.com: Cities where recession is easing article
According to a 3/3/2010 story on Forbes.com, Minneapolis / St.Paul is the 4th-highest ranked metro area in terms of its recovery out of the current recession. The 10 cities where the recession is easing all have relatively healthy housing markets and are buffeted by industries like government, defense, education and technology that can offer work even in a national slump. Forbes used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on job growth and unemployment, Moody’s Economy.com’s predictions for how much jobs would grow in three years, as well as their estimate of each metro’s Gross Domestic Product, and the median sales price for a single-family home, according to the National Association of Realtors.
So, although the economic hardship and uncertainty that has been caused by the current recession affects every household and person uniquely and personally, there DO appear to be brighter days on the horizon.
For many folks who aren’t planning a move from their current home, 2010 may in fact be a fantastic time to get going on that backyard improvement with a new deck, screened porch or other outdoor living project.
Outdoor Living Spaces in Twin Cities, Minnesota by Archadeck 