Reports Show U.S. Economy Slowing

Yahoo! ^ | Friday, November 14, 2003 | Tim Ahmann - Reuters

[Willie Green]

Well so much for the "recovery".
If you blinked, you probably missed it.

[Monty22]

c'mon.

4% is still very good growth.

[GatekeeperBookman]

YOU are over the edge Willie. I am starting to have a great fondness for you-don't spoil that.

The economy will not die by Monday morning-the only people jumping out of windows will still be Demoncats-pitty them. They are dumb and some are dumb and evil. Don't you be dumb. Please. Have an adult beverage & try to be happy.

[Poohbah]

And Willie falls for Reuters spinning 4% growth as a slowdown.

I understand that Reuters is thinking of revising their style manual to replace "President Bush" and "United States" with the term, "Great Satan."

Have they ordered all of their employees to profess Shahada yet?

[UB355]

You base that on a Reuters story, get real.

[dubyagee]

No, see the headline must accomodate the liberal view point, but a more accurate one might read...

U.S. Economy Still on Uphill Trend.

Can't be too positive though, gotta get Bush out in '04.

[verity]

This report must have brought you close to orgasmic giddiness.

[eureka!]

We called this Clymer spin. No way the numbers were going to match the most recent so the lesser number would be "bad". They are so predictable. *spit*

[1rudeboy]

Factor-out mad-cow disease in Canada, and price-increases on new auto models, and the PPI "soared" (Reuters' term) 0.2 percent. But hey, some people are lapping it up.

[Political Junkie Too]

These are the same people who call a reduction in the rate of growth of government funding as a cut.

-PJ

[meenie]

The economy softened in the equity markets today. Most of our weakness in the dollar was caused by our increase in the trade deficit. This weakened the stock market and boosted the bond market. The free trade scenario is still the main factor in the future of our economic problems.

[alloysteel]

On a year-to-year basis, the economy continues to improve, only the rate of the improvement slows, not the direction of the market. The fourth quarter of 2003 will be better than the fourth quarter of 2002, in absolute terms, and the first quarter of 2004 will also be better than the first quarter of 2003. That is the basis that should be employed.

[ex-snook]

"U.S. employers added 286,000 workers to their payrolls in August through October, "

Anyone seen the stats on who hired them?

Willie, I know you have been berated for posting articles about 1200, 800, 600, etc layoffs. But I haven't seen anyone post 1200, 800, 600 etc hirings. Where are they?

[Willie Green]

Don't you be dumb. Please.

I'm not. Heck, I didn't buy into the lunatic euphoric hysteria that surrounded the 3rd Qtr GDP report, did I?
Sheesh, that wasn't even a "preliminary" report, it was an "advance" report based on even sketchier data. I said when it came out that it'll probably be revised downward. Between this Reuters report and the one that was just released on the Trade Deficit, it looks like my assertions are coming true.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

So, unless GDP growth exceeds or equals 7.2% every quarter, the end is near? 4-5% would be just fine.

[Willie Green]

But I haven't seen anyone post 1200, 800, 600 etc hirings. Where are they?

You have to be able to read Chinese.

[bluejay]

An excellent post! I especially liked these:

Overall, economists said the report offered signs that a strengthened recovery was helping companies raise prices a bit, which could help boost profits.

It also might lessen concern at the Federal Reserve over the risk of already-low inflation drifting undesirably lower, they said.

So, we have decent growth but not so high as to force the Fed to increase interest rates. We also have moderate inflation, which should alleviate fears of deflation. All in all a very promising way for Republicans to enter the election year.

[David1]

Please Willie, it was never going to stay at 7.2%. Everyone said it would come down a little bit.

[RobFromGa]

Does this look like a "blink"?

Have you checked the size of your heart lately-- I suspect it may be two sizes too small. You're a mean one, Mr. Green.

[Age of Reason]

I said when it came out that it'll probably be revised downward.

I was harboring the same thoughts.

I remember thinking before I celebrate, I'll wait until I hear the "revised" figures, along with the usual excuses for why the first figures were lies--I mean, were honest mistakes.