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Show (0f U. economist's outlook jicates probable growth decline .-'inn hifih Interest rates, the .?"" .... ... ..f i;.,i 'ht dark clouds into Utah's TrfboominfS Swth sa's ,he jihe Bureau of Economic mid Rfisearvh at the University of ,,m,wth rate peaked in July has been declining ever since, t f Thayne Robson, a leading forecaster in the state, months ago Utahns were being j t0 prepay for high rates of Robson points out- but now il hanging economic conditions Juced grow" in Utah to a very 1 "instead of dealing with high 'wth we will be dealing with "rates of job opportunities in 'he notes. 'tension and the change in the sehave made a difference in Utah's future growth rate, according to he economist. "Several months 12 more wag a high probability that the MX system would be deployed in Utah. Hut the change ln administrations means the country may have a different dif-ferent defense policy. MX will be built" but t may be deployed in the already existing Minute Man silos which would eliminate the race track option in Utah and Nevada valleys." Robson adds. Robson says with changes in MX and expected delays in the $8 billion, 3 000-megawatt 000-megawatt Intermountain Power Project to be built in central Utah growth in the state "has almost ceased." Utah's expected boom in energy development will also be affected he predicts. "The high interest rates 'and capital shortage in this country will affect not only defense budget and military spending but energy development as well. The cost of capital is a major item in energy development." Because interest rates are high and will remain high, Robson says prospective energy projects will be affected in two ways. "First, it's probably going to cause the projects to be scaled down, and second, it's likely to cause some delay in getting the projects financed and underway," he says. |