Economists are trained to look backwards at lagging economic...

Economists are trained to look backwards at lagging economic data, statistics and indicators so they invariably make wrong decisions and forecasts - especially at major tops and bottoms. This is why they become most bullish near market and economic tops, like 2007 and now in 2018, and most pessimistic near market and economic bottoms like 2009. Central banks and government economic committees are made up of these same economists so they invariably create more harm than good too. That's why economics is referred to as the dismal science.