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The Herman Trend Alert July 22, 2009 China---The Awakening Giant We have long realized the magnitude of the Chinese consumer market. The population of China is over 1.3 billion and every year another 12 million babies are born. With this population and growth, it is easy to understand why companies like Microsoft and other tech giants are so interested in investment there. China just surpassed the United States as the world's biggest auto market. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reports that responding to the government's slashing of sales taxes on small vehicles, Chinese car sales surged by 48 percent last month, compared to a year ago. More than half of the world's 50 largest retailers have launched businesses in China. Included in this list are Carrifour, Metro, and Wal-Mart. Driven by domestic consumption and a strong increase in industrial activity, in the three months ending June 30, China's gross domestic product expanded by 7.9 percent (from the previous year). According to Chinese government data revealed Thursday, the growth rate was higher than the 7.7 percent expansion economists expected. This increase marked a sharp acceleration from the 6.1 percent growth recorded in the first quarter. Clearly, China may already be the fastest-growing market on the planet. The Chinese government projects its GDP will grow 8.3 percent this year, according to a report released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the government's official agency. Based on recent conversations with the Obama Administration, China has reached a point where it has assumed a more active role on the international financial stage. The onset of the global financial crisis provides the context for the decline of US economic power and illustrates the extent to which it has become dependent on China for the continuation of its global financial hegemony. Add to this situation the fact that, according to a symposium of experts held in Washington on September 20, China's economy continues to expand. In spite of its overpopulation and unemployment challenges, especially in the rural areas, expect China to grow significantly as a market and trading partner in the coming months and years. The size of its market is enormous. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM A growing number of people have expressed an interest in attending our Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program. We'd like to schedule on that's convenient for those who want to attend, but need your feedback to do so. Please place RETENTION SPECIALIST in the subject line and Joyce will personally call you back to schedule the workshop. Or you can call Joyce directly at 336-210-3548 (PDT this and next week). BUSINESS IS PICKING UP Most employers are unprepared. The recovery will bring a new set of challenges for employers that have been in prolonged contracted mode. They will need more skilled workers or will need now to begin to upskill their current staffs. But organizations can not engage in Strategic Workforce Planning, when they don't know how. That's where The Herman Group can help. We can help you with your "People Review"----large or small---so that you will know who you will need and when you will need them. . . and we can also guide you to the best sources for the people you will need. For more information, call Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail joyce@hermangroup.com. FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL Discover what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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