Abortions alone could account for the seven million population shortfall between today's reality and forecasts made a decade ago.

The forecast makes three assumptions: continued economic recovery, only small increases in fuel prices and no more terrorist attacks.

"What's wrong, Manager, is that these financial forecasts make no sense."

What's more, professionals with sophisticated analytical tools and economic forecasts at their disposal probably make little use of them in crisis situations.

But falling forecasts of energy demand make a new drive towards nuclear power unlikely.

For the last few weeks, those forecasts coupled with disappointing economic data have made investors skittish.

Every forecast I have listened to makes me think we are unlikely to get any.

Its economic forecast and spirited fan base made it the front-runner.

In the years since, satellite images and long-range forecasts have made weather predictions much more sophisticated.

The forecasts for economic growth in the Union made last winter were revised downwards in the spring.