Wednesday, February 16, 2011

TV/film production, Entertainment industry, International trade, tourism and high tech cited as leading economy recovery factors - Also separate report shows LA County has striking economic and personal ties with Japan


Downtown Film Festival rec carpet event.
LAEDC Report Says  Southern California,  California,
U.S.  Economic Recovery is Underway, Stronger Growth in ’12


In L.A. County, international trade, entertainment and tourism leads regional economy.
A separate report shows striking economic and personal ties with Japan

Dr. Nancy Sidhu
Los Angeles — The economic recovery is  under way led by increased international trade  and growth in the high-tech sector,  entertainment and tourism, according to  the 2011-2012 Economic Forecast and  Industry Outlook report released today by  the Kyser Center for Economic Research at  the Los Angeles County Economic Development  Corporation (LAEDC).
The Los Angeles economy “appears to be past the bottom of the recession and is starting up the recovery path during 2011 and 2012,” said LAEDC Chief EconomistNancy D. Sidhu, Ph.D. “Many industries are back in the black and employment is rising in some areas.”
Imports and exports have rebounded around the world. Increased international trade activity in 2011 will benefit the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which both posted strong years in 2010.


Hiring is also expected to  grow as well for the region’s  tourism and entertainment  sectors as a result of  increased filming and more    visitors to the region,  helped by the new  convention center hotel at  L.A. LIVE.
TV/ film permits and production on the rise.
However, there is little likelihood the housing sector will escape another difficult year, even though 2011 is expected to bring some improvement. Housing activity will only see incremental improvement even though it has improved from the 2009 lows.
California, which had the second highest unemployment rate in the country in 2010 at 12.5 percent, will see employment growth in 2011. However, much like the national picture, California’s jobless rate will remain relatively high, with the LAEDC forecasting an average unemployment rate of 12.1 percent this year and the rate coming down to 11.5 percent by next year.
“We project that the California and U.S. economies will grow moderately in 2011 and 2012,” said Sidhu. “But the recession was so deep, 2011 won’t feel all that good despite improvements in most industries.



However, the state is headed in the right direction, and the economy will seem even better by 2012.”
Growing Together report highlights L.A. County’s personal and economic ties with Japan

The LAEDC also released a separate, new report, “Growing Together – Japan and Los Angeles County”. The report describes many of the close ties that have developed between Los Angeles County and Japan, the number one source of foreign direct investment into L.A. County.
U.S. – Japan trade has increased dramatically over the past 50 years jumping from $3.2 billion to $211 billion at its peak in 2000. Japan is the second largest trading partner of the Los Angeles Customs District with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach together handling nearly 25 percent of total trade between Japan and the U.S.
The report also documents the growing importance of foreign direct investment in this relationship, reviewing both investments made by Los Angeles area business firms in Japan and Japanese investments in Los Angeles County.
To discuss their investments made in the region, the LAEDC’s EconomicForecast event held at the Los Angeles Marriott on Feb. 16 features a panel of speakers from well-known Japanese companies. Representatives from Honda Motors, Union Bank and Yakult, makers of probiotic beverages, will discuss the significant impact of Japanese companies on the L.A. County economy.
For the full story  of the Forecast & Industry Outlook and  the first-time LAEDC  report Growing Together – Japan and Los Angeles County.

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