Economic Forecast

Economic forecast is the prediction of the behavior of a variable such as gross domestic product (GDP) or unemployment rate. The methodology used is often based on a statistical characterization of that variable’s behavior as a time series of data points, usually through regression analysis. These methodologies obviously require a great deal of knowledge concerning the representation of the patterns of that behavior and not a little faith that those patterns will persist over time.

A further risk is that a forecaster’s personal theory on how the economy works might dictate what type of indicators they pay more attention to, resulting in subjective or biased projections. This is especially evident in the way in which the results of the survey of top 50 forecast economists published by Blue Chip Indicators differ from those of the more widely-respected survey of professional forecasters by the Survey of Professional Forecasters, and by the St. Louis Fed’s Greenbook (both with a lag of around 5 years).

Low economic growth in advanced economies is expected to persist, driven by weakening demand and elevated trade barriers. Growth in low-income countries is expected to slow further and will remain below the pre-pandemic average, amid deteriorating external conditions, high debt costs, reduced donor support, and heightened conflict risks. The global recovery is fragile and requires renewed commitment to international cooperation, fiscal responsibility, and a relentless focus on jobs creation.

Smart Devices for Your Home

smart devices

Whether you’re looking for a way to improve home security or simply to streamline daily tasks, smart devices offer a lot of convenience. For example, you can control your lights and appliances using a smartphone or voice commands. And a smart doorbell lets you see and talk to visitors before opening the door, adding an extra layer of protection against intruders.

A smart device has sensors designed to detect and measure the environment, as well as actuators that initiate a specific action when a trigger condition is met. The data produced by these devices can be analyzed and used to make changes to the device’s functionality or operation.

Some smart devices only work with a certain ecosystem (like Apple HomeKit, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa), while others support the Matter standard, which makes it easier for different companies’ devices to work together. Regardless of which platform you use, it’s essential to keep your devices up to date. These updates address bugs and security issues that could put your privacy or personal information at risk.

If you’re thinking about upgrading to a smart home, it’s important to start small and plan your transition gradually. The first step is to upgrade your WiFi, which must be strong enough to handle information sharing between connected devices. Next, consider which smart systems and devices you want to install, focusing on those that have extensive device compatibility and prioritize robust security measures. Finally, choose a hub like a smart speaker or display that can act as the central point for your system.

What Does a VR/AR Developer Do?

VRAR development

The latest trend in tech is immersive VR/AR development. This exciting field combines virtual reality and augmented reality to create amazing new experiences, blurring the lines between the real world and the virtual one. It has the potential to revolutionize many different industries.

AR/VR developers are responsible for designing and building interactive augmented reality and virtual reality applications that can be used on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. This includes creating AR features for apps like virtual makeup try-ons or furniture visualizers, and integrating VR headsets into existing mobile apps to provide a more immersive experience.

Much of a AR/VR developer’s time is spent coding, including writing and editing the software that drives the virtual reality and augmented reality experiences. This involves programming in platforms such as Unity or Unreal Engine, and incorporating 3D models and animations into the resulting application. In addition, software optimization and UI/UX design are significant components of the role.

Increasingly, businesses are using AR/VR in practical ways to enhance real-world experience and improve the productivity of their employees. For example, construction companies are leveraging VR to allow architects and builders to design and visualize projects in a simulated environment prior to the start of construction, cutting back on costs by eliminating costly rework. Others are training their employees in a simulated work environment. For instance, Walmart has been using its VR technology to help train its employees how to handle difficult customer situations.

The Difference Between a News Story and a News Feature

news feature

The distinction between news story and feature is an important one to understand – whether you’re a journalist, a PR professional or a business owner. News stories keep the public informed about current events with brevity and accuracy, while features offer more depth and storytelling. Understanding the difference can help you create content that suits your audience and purpose effectively.

A news feature is an editorial piece that takes a deeper dive into a topic, with more storytelling and emotion than a standard news report. Unlike breaking news pieces that are based on timelines and events that occur in the moment, a feature is a narrative article that focuses on human elements, anecdotes, or other subjective information.

Feature articles are also often less formal than news reports, and they may be written in the first person (though this is not necessary for all). They’re often more aesthetically-driven, with the use of literary and rhetorical techniques such as second-person language or rhetorical questions. They also include more visuals and anecdotes to appeal to the reader’s emotions, but should still be backed up by verified facts.

When writing a news feature, it’s important to add in larger-scale statistics that demonstrate the relevance of your topic. For example, if you’re writing about the drug crisis in your city, it would be helpful to include statistics on similar issues in other cities or states. This will give readers a greater sense of how the problem is affecting people in different places and helps to bolster your credibility.

How to Write an Effective Current Events Essay

current events

Current events are issues that have a high impact on the public and are currently trending. Tutors usually assign these types of articles to test students’ ability to comprehend situations. They also require students to present convincing arguments based on facts. Consequently, it is vital to familiarize with the topic of your current event essay and comprehend its realities before you write. Start by studying the news material and taking down notes. This will ensure that you have enough information to form a strong argument and to avoid making any errors.

The current event essay should be based on facts, although there are instances where the news might contain misinformation. As a result, it is essential to identify the sources of your information and cite them in order to avoid any cases of plagiarism. It is also advisable to verify data, especially numbers, from different sources and establish any inconsistencies. In addition, it is recommended to delve into the context of your article and analyze the impact of the event on the public. By doing so, you will be able to create a compelling argument that will capture the attention of the reader. This will ultimately help you score a higher grade.

How to Identify a Market Trend

market trend

A market trend is the general direction of an asset price or volume. Trends can be long-term or short-term. They can be applied to stocks, bonds, commodities and other financial assets. Trend analysis is a component of technical analysis and is based on historical price movements. Trends are influenced by supply versus demand dynamics and market volatility.

A good market trend is one that shows a positive direction and an upward movement in the prices of the asset. This may show that the economy is growing and that there are more jobs available. It is also a sign that consumers are willing to spend more money on the asset.

In contrast, a market downtrend is one that shows a negative direction and a downward movement in the prices of the asset. This could show that the economy is slowing down and there are more job cuts. It is also a sign that consumers will spend less money on the asset.

To identify the market trends, traders use line graphs. They draw a trend line between three high points and if the trend line points down, then the market is on a downtrend.

Market trends can be shaped by economic policy and other macro concepts like demographics, technology and social issues. The popularity of baby names can be a good example of how cultural changes can affect customer needs. For example, Alexa was once one of the most popular baby names in the US but fell from the top 50 after Amazon launched its voice assistant in 2015. Similarly, the decline of Nokia’s mobile phone sales is a reminder that keeping up with market trends is key to developing smarter marketing and product strategy.

Late-Breaking Abstracts for CHI 2025

latebreaking

In television, news programs often interrupt regular programming with “cut-ins” and “alert crawls” to announce breaking stories. In early television news, such breaks were limited to stories deemed to be of critical importance (e.g., assassinations, weather emergencies, and so on). Today, such interruptions are routine, especially on 24-hour news networks.

The CHI 2025 late-breaking abstracts program is designed to recognize novel, critically important research developments that occurred in the lead-up to the International Congress and become available for dissemination after the deadline for regular abstract submission. Accepted Late-Breaking Abstracts are invited to present their work in an oral platform presentation at the International Congress.

Submissions are reviewed by a committee to ensure that accepted works are both novel and relevant to the CHI audience. Accepted late-breaking papers will be published in the ACM Digital Library. Authors will have the option to include an appendix with additional material, but this is optional. See this separate page for more details on the LBW format. All LBWs are semi-archival and may be resubmitted to other peer-reviewed venues in the future.

Understanding the Different Types of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is the technology that powers the applications you use to stream your favorite music or shop online. It allows businesses to rent storage, software and computing power over the internet instead of buying and maintaining their own servers. It’s also a key enabler of artificial intelligence (AI), remote work, and other innovative applications, and is a central part of many companies’ digital transformation initiatives.

The cloud is made up of powerful servers located in data centers around the world that can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. Moving to the cloud can save businesses money and add convenience for users. It’s important to understand the different types of cloud computing before implementing it in your business.

There are four primary cloud platforms: infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), software-as-a-service (SaaS) and serverless computing. IaaS gives you full control of your IT infrastructure, PaaS simplifies application development and deployment, SaaS offers ready-to-use software, and serverless computing breaks applications down into smaller components that only run when they’re needed.

The most common cloud services are storage and applications that can be accessed from web browsers on any device. They’re easy to manage, offer automatic updates and can be backed up for disaster recovery. The cloud is a key part of most companies’ digital transformation strategies, and has the potential to boost business productivity and growth.

What Is the Inflation Rate?

A country’s inflation rate is the measured average of price changes for a basket of goods and services. Government agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) produce a number of price indexes to help policymakers, business leaders, and consumers track overall price movements. The most widely used is the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, which tracks prices paid by urban consumers. This index, along with others produced by the BLS and the BEA, is used to adjust income eligibility for programs such as Social Security and to calculate cost-of-living adjustments for workers.

Each of these indexes takes into account different aspects of a basket of goods and services to generate an overall measure of inflation. For example, the BLS weights the prices of various categories such as shelter, bread, and books according to how much a typical household spends on each of these items. The overall CPI measures the average increase in these prices over time and compares it to a base year. This process allows the various indexes to be directly compared and is key in understanding how different measures of inflation may differ.

Inflation inevitably affects the purchasing power of money as it circulates through the economy. It increases the prices of some goods and services while lowering the costs of other goods and services. It also distorts wages, savings, and rates of return. This is why different groups of economic stakeholders care about the rate of inflation.

What to Include in an Investor Update

When you raise money from investors, it’s your job to keep them informed of what’s going on with the company that they put their capital behind. A great way to do that is by sending investor updates on a regular basis. These are a critical part of the fundraising process and can deepen transparency and trust over time. But not all investor updates are created equal. Some templates fall short when it comes to efficiency, engagement tracking, and real-time collaboration. That’s where purpose-built software comes in.

The goal of an investor update is to provide investors with detailed information about the business’s financial performance, operational milestones, and market trends. It’s typically delivered via email and may also include presentations, videos, or meetings. These updates are most frequently shared by early-stage startup founders on a monthly basis, and growth or late-stage companies on a quarterly basis.

What to Include in an Investor Update

While the content of an investor update can vary, it should always be professional and meet the expectations of your audience. Generally speaking, investor updates should be concise, covering the most important metrics and developments. It’s also important to be mindful that your investors may already have multiple investor updates from other portfolio companies. That’s why it’s crucial to provide clear highlights to avoid overwhelming them.

Finally, don’t forget that your investors want to see you succeed. So don’t hesitate to share major wins and accomplishments, as well as any challenges that you’re working through. This will give them opportunities to leverage their own network, experience, and expertise to help your company thrive.