Economic Recovery Gaining Traction and Durability

[Frodo]

Economy might be gaining traction, new data suggest

By Zachary A. Goldfarb and Michael A. Fletcher,
Thursday, August 9, 8:34 PM

After a spring and summer of weak economic indicators, a flurry of fresh data suggest key sectors of the economy might be gaining traction, just as the battle for the White House enters the final round.

The long-moribund housing market has bustled to life, with prices and new-home construction rising in recent weeks. Hiring, so weak earlier this year, picked up last month. And on Thursday, the government reported an acceleration of a downward trend in the number of people seeking unemployment insurance, as well as a sharp improvement in U.S. exports.

Together, the signs point to an improving economy, a potentially important shift for President Obama’s re-election campaign.

[fezzyfestoon]

Oh thanks be to God...the one aspect of our economy that most adequately represents all its wrongs is making a comeback! Because growth=prosperity in the eyes of politics-based economic outlooks. And those are often the most reliable.

Sorry for the soaking-with-satire post, but this doesn't strike me as good news. I wouldn't be surprised to see unoccupied new housing outnumber abandoned housing + homelessness. Waste to the rescue!

Not to mention our government's love for the unemployment statistic because of its convenient exclusion of everyone but those actively seeking a job. The full employment numbers are what we should be looking at and they're not good.

[Politico]

The full employment numbers are what we should be looking at and they're not good.

You're absolutely right. The scariest part: It is impossible to poll many of the unemployed who are no longer seeking work because they're without food and electricity, let alone a phone to be reached at. Many of them will be too desperate trying to survive another day to actually go out to the polls on Election Day.

[LastVoter]

The full employment numbers are what we should be looking at and they're not good.

You're absolutely right. The scariest part: It is impossible to poll many of the unemployed who are no longer seeking work because they're without food and electricity, let alone a phone to be reached at. Many of them will be too desperate trying to survive another day to actually go out to the polls on Election Day.

They need to start operating a guillotine.

[Politico]

The full employment numbers are what we should be looking at and they're not good.

You're absolutely right. The scariest part: It is impossible to poll many of the unemployed who are no longer seeking work because they're without food and electricity, let alone a phone to be reached at. Many of them will be too desperate trying to survive another day to actually go out to the polls on Election Day.

They need to start operating a guillotine.

They need and want a source of income, any kind of job, so they can provide for themselves. The vast majority of them do not want handouts, nor do they see their troubles as the results of the "haves" keeping them oppressed. They do not think the world owes them a living. They simply want another opportunity, but most companies cannot afford to give that opportunity because of the toxic environment. It's a bad environment for everybody; it's just worse for some than others (much, much worse in the case of some). It is still very much a recessionary environment in that respect.

We need to turn this economy around or the suffering will continue to get worse. It's horrible. The president and his surrogates talking about gay marriage and contraception isn't helping these people find a job. There is no hope for these people. This is not the change they believed in.

[opebo]

They need and want a source of income, any kind of job, so they can provide for themselves.

This is impossible under capitalism, Politicao.

[Person Man]

Another reason why some of them are screwed is because "they want another opportunity". I'm sure they don't neccesarily want a free lunch either, but lunch is lunch.