Much to the pleasant surprise of members who attended ARI's annual meeting at the Breakers Hotel, Martin Regalia, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's chief economist, did not rain on the trade association's golden anniversary parade. In truth, he only added to the festive mood, painting a bright economic future ahead.
"We have an economy that is growing and doing quite well in terms of GDP [gross domestic product]," said Regalia. "This economic recovery has been different from recoveries of the past. It has moved from an economy that wasn't creating jobs to one that is. When we saw the third quarter growth, we saw trade that is helping, not hurting, the economy. It is a tremendous achievement and it shows that the economy is more balanced and has more staying power."