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List some of the most important macroeconomic factors affecting businesses today?

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Question added by Yasin Mohamed , Manager - Strategy , Al Mal Capital
Date Posted: 2013/07/06
samah shabiby
by samah shabiby , Accountant , royal converters ltd

Various macroeconomic factors that influence the business are: a.
Economic Growth.
Economic activities refer to the level of buying and selling activities happening in an economy over a time period.
It is a highly complex activity and keeping accurate track of it is beyond comprehension.
Economic activity is not constant and can change rapidly, thereby affecting the business.
Economic activity changes could happen due to the following reasons: Changes in income levels Future prospects of individuals.
Future of the economy The level of economic activity in the world as a whole Political activities around the world Natural disasters - like hurricanes, earthquakes, or flood etc Changes in prices of raw materials - oil, metals, fuel, energy and so on Changes in world stock markets The level of economic activity is usually measured by GDP (Gross Domestic product).
It refers to the total amount of goods and services a country produces.
Businesses are greatly influenced by the economic activities.
When GDP rate falls or slows down, there will be a fall in demand for good or services offered by businesses.
As a result, businesses will witness a fall in revenues and profit margins.
To curb this business will have to reduce their prices to increase the sales.
This could further lead to increase in unemployment.
On the other hand when there is an increase in GDP, the demand for products will automatically increase and hence the prices will go up.
To cope with the increase in demand business will need to employ new people resulting in reduction in Unemployment rates.
b.
Inflation: With the increase in Inflation there will be an increase in the level of prices of products and services over a specific period of time.
As a result the firms will have to incur higher costs of operations.
This will be also due to the increase in wages of the employees.
c.
Interest Rates: Interest rates are the charges levied by the banks for lending a loan.
Increase in Interest rates will directly influence the business as businesses borrow money from the banks from time to time.
Increase in interest rates will lead to higher interest expense: Businesses will have to incur higher costs to repay the loan.
Interest rate changes also affect customers who in turn will affect the business.
In case of increase in interest rates the amount that individuals need to pay to borrow the money will increase thereby, reducing the demand for large products in the market.
Further, if the interest rates decrease then the charges on a loan to buy larger items like cars, electrical equipments are likely to fall.
As a result, a large number of people might be willing to buy such items.
There will be a sudden increase in the demand for the products offered by such businesses.

Asif Yaqub Khan
by Asif Yaqub Khan , Assistant Professor , Bahria College Karsaz

Macroeconomic factors are those factors that relate specifically to the broader or wider economy at a regional level or a national level. Such factors affect a much larger population as opposed to a small number. Examples of such factors include employment, inflations and savings.

 

 

Anith Kumar C K
by Anith Kumar C K , Relationship Officer , Kotak Mahindra Bank

1 - Balance of trade2 - Balance of payment3 - Fiscal and monetary policy4 - Inflation5 - Changes in crude oil prices6 - level of national and per capital income

Mohamed Ifham
by Mohamed Ifham , Quantity Surveyor , Al bandary Group

Entrepreneurship tends to focus on identifying and fulfilling consumer needs in specific niche markets, but all businesses can be affected by large-scale economic trends. Accounting for trends in the overall economy can help business managers make better decisions.

Consumer confidence however measured on a national level is a relatively useless indicator, it really matters in each local market as in any economy, some will be doing well, some okay, and some in distress.

Eric Muthike
by Eric Muthike , Inventory Accountant , Athi River Tanneries

  1. Political instabilty
  2. Economic stagnation
  3. Inflation
  4. Interest Rates
  5. Government Policies
  6. Infrastucture.

Muzzaffar Anjum
by Muzzaffar Anjum , Consultant , CRISIL, Credit-Suisse

 Macroeconomic analysis broadly focuses on three things: national output (measured by gross domestic product (GDP)), unemployment and inflation.

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