[AreaMan]

There might be drop in pay in some professions, like engineering, but overall real hourly earnings rose 1.5 percent last year for Americans in general...

You are correct. Care to tell me what the increase in productivity was?

Try at least double what earnings were.

[Jorge]

Care to tell me what the increase in productivity was? Try at least double what earnings were.

True. Employers have been squeezing more production out of fewer workers. But increased productivity is the driving force behind higher living standards.

And as long as unemployment is going down (5.6% is low) and hourly wages are going up, the big picture looks good.