1 percentat the end of 2009 roughly where they are now

A majority of those polled thought the recession wouldofficially end in the third quarter of 2009, which would makethis the longest downturn since World War Two. However, more than half of respondents thought unemploymentwould peak no earlier than 2010, suggesting that economic painmay linger long after the recession is technically over. For 2009, the consensus view was that real gross domesticproduct would fall 1.6 percent, gloomier than the previousmonth's forecast for a 1.1 percent decline. Merrill Lynch held the most pessimistic view, predicting a2.8 percent decline, while Fedex Corp (FDX.N) was the mostoptimistic of the bunch, forecasting just a 0.2 percent dip. "Much likely will depend on the relative success or failureof ongoing and prospective stimulus measures applied bygovernment," Blue Chip's monthly newsletter said, adding thatabsent a stimulus package, "prospects would be much darker." The consensus opinion was that the stimulus plan wouldtotal $778 billion, with estimates ranging from $635 billion to$900 billion. President-elect Barack Obama has encountered someresistance in Congress, but a large spending package is widelyexpected to be approved next month.

The economists seemed to conclude that government effortsto push down mortgage rates may stall. On average, theyexpected rates on 30-year conventional mortgages at 5.1 percentat the end of 2009, roughly where they are now. They forecast that the consumer price index would fall 0.4percent this year, which would mark the first year-over-yeardecrease since 1955 and no doubt deepen investors' worriesabout deflation. deficit soars and theTreasury Department issues a record amount of debt.

Nearly 48 percent thought the trade-weighted value of thedollar would end 2009 higher than its current level (Editing by Gary Crosse) Currencies Bonds. BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ The Asthma and AllergyFoundation of America (AAFA) announces that its President and CEO, William M.McLin, has been appointed to the Council of the National Institute of Allergyand Infectious Disease (NIAID), an institute of the National Institutes ofHealth (NIH), for a four-year term. McLin has been head of AAFA since 2001 at a time when asthma and allergicdiseases in the U.S. have experienced alarming growth; prevalence has nearlydoubled over the past 25 years.McLin helped the 55-year-old not-for-profitpatient group transition into the 21st Century to better educate patients andcaregivers, as well as advocate and conduct research for the asthma andallergy community.McLin will serve on the advisory subcommittee of the Division of Allergy,Immunology, and Transplantation through October 31, 2012.During programreviews, the subcommittee advises on a program's effectiveness in meetingInstitute goals and the needs of the allergy and immunology community. Before coming to AAFA, McLin served as Director of Government Relations andExecutive Vice President during his 20-year tenure with the EpilepsyFoundation of America.

McLin has held key positions with theNational Health Council, the American Society of Association Executives, thePresident's Committee for Employment of People with Disabilities and thePublic Advisory Roundtable of the American Thoracic Society.NIAID conducts and supports basic and applied research to better understand,treat and prevent infectious, immunologic and allergic diseases. For more than50 years, NIAID research has led to new therapies, vaccines, diagnostic testsand other technologies that have improved the health of millions of peoplearound the world. Visit AAFA is the leading national not-for-profit patient advocacy organization forpeople with asthma and allergies. It is dedicated to improving the quality oflife for people with asthma and allergies through education, advocacy andresearch.