2008 Economic Forecasts Break Record For Caveats

BANGKOK – The 27 caveats for 2008 economic forecasts broke the old record of 25 set in 1992, prominent economists said yesterday.

“This year there are a record number of factors that could swing the economic forecasts,” said renowned economist Supavud Saicheua of Phatra Securities. “Basically nobody knows what will happen in 2008.”

GDP growth forecasts for this year range between 3.5 percent and 6.5 percent, meaning the economy could either really take off or suffer tremendously. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Here are the 27 caveats identified by economists so far:

1. The election results are voided
2. Oil prices surge past $100/barrel
3. The US subprime mortgage crisis causes a US recession
4. The US bombs Iran
5. The military stages another coup
6. PPP gets dissolved
7. Banharn becomes prime minister
8. Thaksin returns
9. The southern insurgency spreads North
10. Longan production slows
11. The US bombs Pakistan
12. Samak becomes prime minister
13. Coyote dancing banned
14. Prem and Samak get in a catfight
15. Sondhi Limthongkul opens his mouth
16. Rosana Tositrakul sues the stock exchange
17. Panthongtae becomes finance minister
18. Foreign businesses are expelled
19. The Nation fails to sell newspapers
20. Alcohol banned
21. Tourists boycott following Suan Lum Night Bazaar closure
22. Bird flu spreads to mosquitoes
23. Jatukam decoder rings fail to catch on
24. The US bombs Canada
25. People get sick of wearing yellow
26. Smiling banned
27. Mourning periods drag on too long