More good news from the US economic front
       |           

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
March 29, 2024, 07:36:42 AM
News: Election Simulator 2.0 Released. Senate/Gubernatorial maps, proportional electoral votes, and more - Read more

  Talk Elections
  General Politics
  Economics (Moderator: Torie)
  More good news from the US economic front
« previous next »
Pages: [1]
Author Topic: More good news from the US economic front  (Read 525 times)
Tender Branson
Mark Warner 08
Atlas Institution
*****
Posts: 58,173
Austria


Political Matrix
E: -6.06, S: -4.84

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« on: February 16, 2012, 11:34:00 AM »

(Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week to a near four-year low, suggesting the labor market recovery was gaining steam.

Other government data on Thursday also pointed to sustained momentum in the economy, with builders breaking more ground on new residential projects in January and little signs of a pick-up in inflation pressures.

"The job market is getting better and that's really key. We're still in the early innings of this but I'm glad to see another data point that adds to the picture of an improving economy," said Kevin Caron, market strategist at Stifel, Nicolaus & Co in Florham Park, New Jersey

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 348,000, the Labor Department said, the lowest level since March 2008.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims rising to 365,000. The four-week moving average for new claims, seen as a better measure of labor market trends, fell 1,750 to 365,250 - the lowest since April 2008.



In a separate report, the Commerce Department said housing starts rose 1.5 percent to an annual rate of 699,000 units last month, beating economists' expectations for a 675,000-unit pace.

Starts were boosted by multi-unit buildings, reflecting growing demand for rental apartments as Americans move away from homeownership. Permits for future home construction rose 0.7 percent to a 676,000-unit pace in January.

U.S. stock index futures and crude oil futures pared losses after the data. The dollar rose against the yen, and U.S. Treasuries prices rose modestly.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/16/us-usa-economy-idUSTRE7BM0AB20120216

...

Could we see another month with 250.000 or more jobs created ?
Logged
Paul Kemp
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 6,230
United States
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2012, 07:53:48 PM »

Obama's fault.
Logged
Politico
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,862
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2012, 07:11:20 PM »

How many people have met the limit?
Logged
Beet
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 28,806


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2012, 02:26:25 PM »

So, according to the prevailing ordoliberal logic, the Fed's two bouts of QE should have led to hyperinflation, instead of 2.4% medium CPI/2.6% trimmed mean CPI (those figures including food & energy but not including falling single-home prices).

Also according to the ordoliberal logic, apparently the Treasury and Fed is being irresponsible and not acting in the national interest by not borrowing to the hilt and printing dollars to the max, because the benefits of such an action would go entirely to the US government, while the costs would be shared with the US's $7 trillion reserve holders around the world.

Yet somehow the ordoliberal predictions aren't coming true.
Logged
Politico
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,862
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2012, 02:32:22 PM »
« Edited: February 18, 2012, 02:38:29 PM by Politico »

I don't think anybody envisioned QE leading to anything worse than 1970s-style inflation. We were (are?) in a liquidity trap, so QE was worth trying and it appears the Fed did not go too far with it. Obviously another bout is not in store unless deflation becomes a threat again. Personally, I feel it would be more effective to covertly inject hard currency, physical dollar bills, into the economy one way or another (e.g., faux black market operations, if you get where I'm going with this; see Miami during the Carter/Regan recession haha)
Logged
Pages: [1]  
« previous next »
Jump to:  


Login with username, password and session length

Terms of Service - DMCA Agent and Policy - Privacy Policy and Cookies

Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines

Page created in 0.216 seconds with 13 queries.