NAFCU Economist Taylor on Fox News

WASHINGTON-During a segment on the improving economy airing on Fox News Channel’s Special Report with Brit Hume Dec. 22, NAFCU Senior Economist Jeff Taylor had the opportunity to put his two cents in. The segment, entitled “Is the overall economic outlook for the president’s second term favorable or not so good?” featured a handful of economists. “I think the consumer is in pretty good shape and will continue to spend, and, again, that’s two-thirds of the economy,” Taylor said in his remarks. “I think we’ve got some good momentum going here.” Another statement of his made the air in which he commended President George W. Bush’s tax cuts as boosting the economy. Hume’s weekday 6-7 p.m. slot is billed as cable television’s highest rated news show by FNC. Part of the clip also appeared an hour later on FNC’s Fox Report with Shepard Smith. Apparently a producer for the Brit Hume show came across an item regarding the economy (“Leading indicators up in November,” Dec. 22) on NAFCU’s Web site (www.nafcu.org) and asked the economist to appear on the show. The story on NAFCU’s Web site quoted Taylor as saying, “The coincident index, which measures current economic activity, continues to show strength, suggesting the economy is gaining additional momentum. We expect GDP to expand by about 4.3% during the fourth quarter, up from 3.9% during the third quarter.” The clips came from a 15-minute, taped Q&A between Taylor and Senior White House Correspondent Jim Angle.