Every year I have welcomed the new year with 11 predictions for said new year. Each is easily judged correct or incorrect 365 days later. In 2005, I was right 9 out of 11 times. In 2008, only four of the predictions panned out. This year, this journal predicts:
- President Obama will veto at least five bills passed by Congress and all of them will be sustained
- After the Greek elections set for January 25, Syriza will be the largest party in the legislature.
- Chelsea FC will win at least 2 titles from among the Premiership, the FA Cup, the Champions League and the League Cup
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average will top 20,000 at some point in the year,
- One candidate for president on either the Democratic or Republican side will withdraw from the race before December 31, 2014.
- Russia’s economy as measured by GDP will shrink by at least 7% during 2015
- The Ebola outbreak in West Africa will not be snuffed out by December 31, 2015
- The price of Brent Crude will close higher on December 31, 2015 than it does on December 31, 2014.
- The Labour Party will lead the government after Britain’s election in May. One is unwilling to predict a majority for Labour.
- The UK Independence Party will win fewer than 5 seats in May’s election.
- The Scottish National Party will have more Scottish seats in Westminster following May’s election.