I love the audacity of those who publish those economic reports...it is the equal of trying to locate an airplane by sound rather than by sight. My advice is use your powers of observation and make your own conclusions. Don’t rely on some dope sitting behind a desk trying to gleen some detail from someone else’s study based on what is being reported to them. If you pass by many strip malls and note all the stores are leasing, that is a clue there is a problem. If you note a bunch of homes for sale seemingly forever in your community, there is a problem. If you pass by a truck terminal and note many idle containers (I did this for years traveling to work to give me a hint on the economy) there is problem. If your children and you cannot find gainful employment, there is a problem. You don’t need to rely upon some guy in a pin stripe suit to provide his oracle like wisdom on how things are going. When we use our powers of observation and analysis, we never fall victim to the word “unexpected” attached to an economic report in the “news”, especially today, where the press is a syncophant cheerleader of the programs of the dope in charge.
Good comments on practical observation.
On a recent 1600 mile road trip, I notice that a lot of interstate billboards are still “available”.
This started in 08 and has continued. Don’t remember it previously.