Description: U.S. service industries expanded in September for the first time in a year as the emerging recovery spread from housing and factories to the broader economy.

Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: 10/05/2009

Keys: Cash flows (p355), Growth (p586)

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a9IZDDP21AtQ

Questions for discussion: 

• Why is the service industry index a useful measure of business growth?
• Do you believe that the economic expansion was only temporary or the start of a new business cycle?
• How will this affect financial planning over the next six months? Explain your thinking.