The numbers are in this month, and they're not good

[MadHound]

Prices are up, employment is down, and misery is hot in heavy trading.

"Consumers paid more in January for everything from food and gas to airline tickets and clothing. The price increases reflect creeping but still-modest inflation."
<http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Consumers-paid-more-for-most-apf-3096006231.html?x=0>

"WHOLESALE PRICES RISE: Wholesale prices outside of volatile food and energy jumped 0.5 percent in January, the biggest gain since October 2008. A 6.9 percent spike in gas prices pushed the broader Producer Price Index up 0.8 percent."
<http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110216/ap_on_bi_ge/us_economy_summary_box_3>

"More people applied for unemployment benefits last week, one week after claims had fallen to the lowest level in nearly three years.

The big drop a week earlier had occurred largely because bad weather in many parts of the country had kept people from applying for benefits."
<http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=133834178>

And the hits just keep on coming. Frankly I think that the CPI is being manipulated to make inflation look like less of a threat, and I know that the employment numbers are being manipulated to disguise the true extent of unemployment in this country. But as this continues, even these doctored numbers are going to be unable to disguise what is going on in this country.

The trouble is, with the Fed printing money like it's going out of style, inflation could take off like a rocket with the least little push, and here we are getting these little pushes, month in, month out, and now gas is going to be going up again, possibly back to the five dollar a gallon level.

None of this bodes well for our economy, our country.

[Donnachaidh]

1. but but but - we're recovering!!!11!!!!

for the sarcasm impaired :sarcasm:

:kick:

[Motown_Johnny]

3. one week after claims had fallen to the lowest level in nearly three years

If we are not recovering how is it that claims had fallen to the lowest level in nearly three years?

[Luciferous]

4. Helps to actually read the OP's post... "The big drop a week earlier had occured

largely because bad weather in many parts of the country had kept people from applying for benefits."

[Motown_Johnny]

6. I read that, and I actually understand it

It means that levels were so low that bad weather was enough to drop it to the lowest level in three years.


Do you think there has been no other bad weather for the last three years?

The fluctuation is what took it to the lowest level but it is the recovery which had it so close to that level already.


Helps to actually comprehend the OP's post.

[sfwriter]

5. I can't collect any longer so why claim...

Seriously. I'm heading for two years.

In that time I've continued to pick up freelance jobs and volunteer, but no work.

I'm in Grad school now just to have something to do and pick up skills for the next economy.

[Donnachaidh]

10. and how many people have disappeared into the 99er Zone?

Any numbers on THAT reality?

[uponit7771]

8. Job Growth graphs says you're right, we are recovering....

Sometimes we don't want to see the truth...

[Donnachaidh]

9. yeah, the *truth* being people going back to work are taking big cuts

and then add to that skyrocketing prices for gas and food. Yeah, some *recovery* :eyes:

Of course Wall Street is doing just fine! :sarcasm:

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Energy & food aren"t "volatile."

They just keep going up, never down, and are excluded for the sole purpose of making the numbers look better. And vothing in the CPI is as important to the poor and elderly as food & energy prices.

[pinqy]

11. They're not excluded

I wish people would actually research things before they say idiotic stuff like that. And food and energy are volatile and do go up and down more quickly and by more than anything else. A simple look at the data shows that.

[rusty fender]

7. Chill out!

Obama's got this! Obviously, you are playing checkers, while he is playing Wizard's chess. We're headed in the right direction. The recovery is happening; it's just not happening at as quick a pace as the President would like. LILLY LEDBETTER, DAMN IT!:eyes:

[katnapped]

12. Time the rich get another tax cut, me thinks...

They're overdue for one as it is, but this data just cements the notion.