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One more time: The unemployment numbers in context
Context is one of those tricky words for some. Because, when applied, it tends to trip up their attempts to shade news a certain way. Without it, they’re much more able to do their shading than when...
View ArticleCBO forecast for 2012– another trillion dollar deficit and 8.9% unemployment
Speaking of the record compiled under the Obama administration, the CBO provides plenty of ammo for the GOP: The Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday predicted the deficit will rise to $1.08 trillion...
View ArticleThe jobs report
A good job report this month drops the “official” unemployment rate to 8.3%. That, of course, will be touted as significant progress and, on one level, it is. The number of jobs created is above the...
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The unemployment numbers: good news, but lack context [UPDATE]
Obviously any time you are in a recession and the employment numbers are in positive territory, that’s good news. And, as Dale reported below, last month we saw jobs grow by 227,000. But … and you...
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Are the recent employment gains real?
Over the last several months, we’ve seen moderate gains in non-farm payroll jobs, with the rate of job creation running at about 200,000 jobs a month. That’s seems good, as does the continuing drop in...
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The economy: A little graphic context
This chart will blow you away (via James Pethakoukis): The NY Fed explains: The first figure shows how these three labor market variables evolved over the four post-1973 business cycles (excluding...
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Quote of the Day: Unemployment reality check edition
James Pethokoukis provides us with the quote (a little context when you hear all the “sunshine and roses” employment reports): [T]o restore the job market to the state it was in back in 2007, before...
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Unemployment: The myth and the reality
And all of it brought to you in charts via Zero Hedge. The myth: The "official" unemployment rate is 8.2%. Zero Hedge claims the real unemployment rate is 14.8%. The reality in two charts. Chart 1: In...
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Observations: The QandO Podcast for 06 May 12
This week, Bruce and Dale talk about what the Trayvon martin case says about the media. The direct link to the podcast can be found here. As a reminder, if you are an iTunes user, don’t forget to...
View ArticleOpen thread
I’m in a series of meetings today so I’m unlikely to get any serious blogging done. You guys talk among yourselves. Suggestions: “flip-flop” is now “evolution”? Really? And, dealing with just the...
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Observations: The QandO Podcast for 03 Jun 12
This week, Bruce, Michael and Dale talk about the economy and the election. The direct link to the podcast can be found here. As a reminder, if you are an iTunes user, don’t forget to subscribe to the...
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Jobs for June? Not many
But the “official” unemployment rate stayed at 8.2%. The broader measure of unemployment – includes job seekers as well as those in part-time jobs – inched up from 14.8% to 14.9%. GDP? Predictions...
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Chart of the day: Unemployment? What unemployment? This is the new normal....
Or so President “a step in the right direction” Obama would have you believe about this week’s job numbers. We’re making progress. Really. Come on. Really. Just look: Ok, don’t. Forward! ~McQ...
View ArticleICYMI: Companies planning on less hiring in near future
According a report by Reuters, much of it is related to the looming crisis in Europe: Only 23 percent of the firms polled in June plan to add to staff in the next six months, the National Association...
View ArticleFossil fuel still the hope for the future
Let this paragraph, given the economic circumstances we now find ourselves in and the policies we’ve suffered under with this administration in reference to fossil fuels, sink in: U.S. energy supplies...
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Obama handling of economy garners 36 percent approval
Another indicator poll. Again, these polls, at this point, are much more valuable than the horse race polls at this point. They indicate the mood of the public. They tell you what is bothering them...
View ArticleJobs, jobs, jobs …
We’ve been told for months now about all the jobs that have been created by the laser-like focus on jobs that Barack and Sheriff Joe have given us. Of course the inconvenient statistic that keeps...
View ArticleIndicators: Enthusiasm among critical voters down for Obama
So the question of the week is can the DNC via Obama reignite the “magic” of 2008 in dispirited voters? Charlie Cook, the dean of Democratic strategists, takes a look at three demographic groups...
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August employment report in one word? Awful (UPDATE)
Of course the spin will be that the unemployment rate has dropped to 8.1%. Unstated is the fact that the reason the unemployment rate dropped is because 368,000 more Americans left the labor force. In...
View ArticleSince when do Americans reward incompetence?
Jonah Goldberg provides a little history lesson that helps one understand why it is that politicians are now credited with the country’s economic progress or lack thereof: The idea that presidents...
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