So if you’re saying 2 out of the last 10 down turn in housing market didn’t turn into recession because of the wars, then what make the Iraq war any different? Sure, you show signed that European economy is slowing, but hasn’t the European economy been pretty stagnate for a while now? Can you look up the Asian economy? Last I check, the Asian economy is booming, from India, to China, to Vietnam, they’re all exploding. Bottom line, I still don’t buy the “recession is in the bag” prediction.
Regards to your into about economic bias from forecaster, of course they’re biased, everyone is biased. Bear will more often than not miss the major upswing, while bulls will miss the turning point and caught holding the bag.