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Global Plunge Panics Economists

Markets dive worldwide as new figures point to intractable slowdown

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 18, 2009 4:13 AM CST

(Newser) – The markets' global plunge yesterday was testament to a new, scary fact, writes the Washington Post: the world economic crisis is getting even worse. New figures show the economies of Japan, Britain and Germany contracting at their fastest in decades, while emerging markets like Russia and Brazil are tanking, and unemployment in the US and even China is hitting worrying highs. For economists, the global character of the crisis makes recovery particularly difficult.

"If you go back six months or so, there was a hope that some parts of the world will escape the downturn from the US economy," said one economist in London. "That hope has now faded. We're seeing a downturn in virtually every area of the world."

Pedestrians wait for a walk signal in front of an electric market information display in Tokyo last week.
Pedestrians wait for a walk signal in front of an electric market information display in Tokyo last week.   (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)
Traders surround a post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange last week.
Traders surround a post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange last week.   (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Bank of America specialists work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange last week.
Bank of America specialists work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange last week.   (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Guest
Feb 17, 2009 10:33 PM CST
But wait, I thought they passed the "Stimulus" ??

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