James P. Stuckey Reports Faraway Tragedies Impact Our Daily Lives

NAPLES, Florida – May 7, 2012 – According to James P. Stuckey, the 8.6 magnitude earthquake that hit Sumatra Wednesday may have an impact on your morning caffeine jolt.

Even as the news reports focused on fears of a tsunami, many Americans went about their daily routine, James P. Stuckey notes. However, natural disasters can have global implications, says Stuckey, often driving up the cost of everything from gasoline to paper towels.

Indonesia, said to be the fourth-largest producer of coffee in the world, is responsible for C. canephora, states James P. Stuckey. According to James P. Stuckey, due to its flavor C. canephora is used in espresso as well as many instant coffees. While the 8.6 magnitude quake reportedly resulted in only minimal property damage in Indonesia, traders were watching stocks for such high-performing coffee retailers as Starbucks.

Sometimes anticipation alone can drive down stock values, points out James P. Stuckey. Traders panic and sell, creating a downward spiral that can have an impact on individual stock prices. According to James P. Stuckey, it isn’t unusual for prices to rise following a natural disaster. Since so many products are imported from overseas, a tsunami, flood, earthquake or tornado in a vital area can create a shortage. This drives prices up for everyone.

Stuckey points out, however, that the stock market seems to recover well from disaster. 2010’s Haiti earthquake caused a 6.6 percent drop in the S&P, and the September 11th disaster shut down the stock market for the rest of the week. But James P. Stuckey marvels at the stock exchange’s ability to rally, pointing out that even a disaster like Hurricane Katrina couldn’t keep it down for long.

The biggest impact felt by Americans, according to James P. Stuckey, is on a personal level. Oil prices may be affected by what happens overseas and commodities like coffee and chocolate, traded through import-export agreements between countries, can fluctuate as well.

In his three decades in real estate development, James P. Stuckey has seen the toll Mother Nature can take on an area. Recently, housing prices declined sharply and many homeowners have been forced to walk away. At times, the cycle begins with large-scale disasters, James P. Stuckey explains, and these disasters put a strain on large residential areas, driving down housing prices and leaving residents with few options.

It is for this reason that James P. Stuckey regularly donates his time to help those in need. After the Haitian earthquake, James P. Stuckey traveled to this devastated area and used his expertise to assist in rebuilding some of the hardest-hit areas. This type of assistance, James P. Stuckey believes, has helped the economy on a global scale. By helping rebuild factories and homes, volunteers like James P. Stuckey not only help residents but also ensure exports are virtually uninterrupted.

Only time will tell if you’ll be paying more as you go through the line at Starbucks in the morning. But as James P. Stuckey points out, the best way to make a difference in the global economy is to find ways to help those in need after a disaster.