Similar Stories to Houston Economy Likely To Slow Next Year, Ghp Forecaster Says on Bing News

Falling oil prices could sharply cut the number of jobs created in Houston next year, a prominent economic forecaster told local business leaders Thursday. While business leaders in the ballroom were clearly nervous about the falling prices in the city's leading industry - based on their responses of interactive polls about their biggest financial concerns - one industry leader was keeping his cool. The energy industry has enjoyed four years of price stability, Drummond said, and that might make the current situation feel like the end of the world to younger folks involved. [...] when it comes to whether he believes more mergers like Halliburton's purchase of Baker Hughes last month are in the works much, Drummond said companies are readying their balance sheets to take advantage of the current environment.