Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Job Market’s February Crumble: The raw numbers tell the ugly story.
Pajamas Media ^ | 03/08/2014 | Tom Blumer

Posted on 03/08/2014 10:54:51 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Friday morning’s monthly jobs report [1] from the government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics showed a level of February job additions which the establishment press quickly portrayed as tremendous news.

The Associated Press described the results as “a welcome surprise [2],” achieved “despite a blast of harsh winter weather.” Bloomberg News claimed [3] that “the U.S. economy is starting to shake off the effects of the severe winter weather.” Reuters heralded it [4] as an “upbeat sign for weather-beaten economy.”

Opportunistic Obama administration Labor Secretary Thomas Perez crowed [5]: “We’re moving in the right direction.”

Do not be fooled. Especially be wary of [6] “the prevailing view of economists,” which is that “when the weather warms up, so, too, will the U.S. economy.”

All of the “surprise” in Friday’s employment report lies in how BLS could possibly have converted truly awful raw data into decent-looking numbers — 175,000 payroll jobs added overall, with 162,000 of them in the private sector — after performing its seasonal adjustment calculations. We had better hope that the raw numbers came in as weak as they did due to February’s rough weather. If they didn’t, we may be facing the worst year in the job market since 2010.

For those unfamiliar with the process, “seasonal adjustment [7]” is “a statistical method for removing the seasonal component of a time series that is used when analyzing non-seasonal trends.” In layman’s terms, it’s an attempt to smooth out results which fluctuate throughout the year to present them in proper context.

For reasons which I have never understood, economists, analysts, and especially reporters seldom go beyond the seasonal adjustment calculations to look at the raw, not seasonally adjusted data, aka the report presenter’s best estimate of what actually happened. This has always been a negligent practice; but it’s especially dangerous now. That’s because, as I wrote last year [8], “five years of the Obama economy render the government’s seasonally adjusted numbers virtually worthless.” As we near six years since the Pelosi-Obama-Reid economy [9] began, its erratic nature continues to disrupt normal seasonal patterns.

Let’s look at how bad February really was, and at how the government’s seasonal calculations larded tons of lipstick onto a couple of really ugly pigs:

NSAandSAjobAddsJan2008toFeb2014

February’s figure of 750,000 jobs added overall was the worst February since 2010, the final month of the Obama economy’s extended “jobs recession.” (The administration likes to crow about its 48 months of consecutive though sometimes tepid job growth, but always overlooks how it managed to unprecedentedly extend job losses a full eight months after the recession officially ended in June 2009 [10].) “Somehow,” that result, which is 288,000 jobs below last year’s 1.038 million, converted to 175,000 seasonally adjusted jobs added, only 105,000 fewer than last year’s 280,000. In the context of both February 2013 and February 2012 — BLS seasonally adjusts using five years of data, but weighs recent years more heavily — the reported result should have been barely above zero, in which case we’d be seeing the press citing the weather as the go-to excuse instead of something the “resilient” job market heroically overcame.

The private sector’s reported 300,000 job additions in February is 46 percent lower than last February’s 553,000, and is thus even more troubling. In historical context, its seasonally adjusted result should also have come in barely positive.

Unfortunately, those who suspect that BLS may have fudged its presentation now have some basis for holding that belief. Since January 2013, fever swamp leftist Erica Groshen [11] has occupied an influential perch [12] as its commissioner of Labor Statistics. As an opponent of her nomination said in 2012 [11], “To place at the head of the bureau someone with a far-left record … has the potential to diminish the believability of the information that they produce.” The narratives in BLS’s monthly employment reports during the past year have clearly come across as more selective, inconsistent, and politicized than in the past. One would hope that Groshen’s influence only extends that far, but it would be foolish to dismiss the possibility that it doesn’t go further.

The job market’s clearly bad February could not have come at a worse time, as I’ll explain on the next page.

The five months from February through June have traditionally been the time when employers are most actively hiring. As a result, the economy almost always adds millions of jobs. A job market with as much unutilized and underutilized labor as this one should be adding at least 5.5 million not seasonally adjusted (i.e., actual) jobs during these five months. As seen above, the Obama economy hasn’t come anywhere close to achieving that result in any of the three years since the jobs recession ended, falling short by about 1.4 million in 2011 and 2013, and by about 1.6 million in 2012.

Based on February’s awful results, this year may be shaping up to be even worse than the previous three, just in time for what is supposed to be peak hiring — hence my earlier suggestion that we had better hope that February’s bad weather is what seriously hurt the results. If it’s not the cause, we’re in for a very rough ride in the coming months.

It’s not too early to raise the distinct possibility that February’s awful results have far more to do with destructive federal government policies and programs than with ice and snow. Of special concern is its newest and most comprehensive initiative. Obamacare anyone?



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: jobs; unemployment
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-40 next last

1 posted on 03/08/2014 10:54:51 AM PST by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
There's plenty of jobs just a bunch of deadbeats! Americans just won't work them. We need to bring in more illegal to boost the economy.

Just getting in before the FR 'Deadbeat' and 'We love hard working illegals that we can pay next to nothing and then call the ICE to come get them when we are done crowd'.
2 posted on 03/08/2014 11:04:54 AM PST by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

This year is the first time in my life I have ever heard the news media proclaiming the weather as a serious factor driving economic statistics.


3 posted on 03/08/2014 11:05:10 AM PST by Steve_Seattle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steve_Seattle

That’s a GREAT point. Now that you say that neither have I.


4 posted on 03/08/2014 11:06:38 AM PST by STJPII
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

The government can use their own numbers and make macro claims that things are getting better, but I don’t see it based on my own observations. With the exception of the stock market and energy sector it’s not there. The stock market appears to be a bubble. The shale gas boom is a good thing. Everything else looks anemic to me.

How many small businesses are barely hanging on or even losing money considering how much of our economy is service/luxury based? Empty strip malls and larger retail outlets closing are not signs of economic health. This is before the full impact of Obamacare is felt by businesses and it will negatively impact jobs.

I am not optimistic about how this all ends.


5 posted on 03/08/2014 11:08:14 AM PST by volunbeer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Yes, yes, yes, but was it “unexpected”?


6 posted on 03/08/2014 11:12:59 AM PST by vladimir998
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: volunbeer

Its all going to crash and we know it


7 posted on 03/08/2014 11:13:00 AM PST by Java4Jay (The evils of government are directly proportional to the tolerance of the people.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Kartographer

Oh, the moochers and deadbeat contingent at FR! Hey, why should Republicans make an issue of unemployment and the Democrats contribution to it when they can spend all their time beating up on the unemployed?!

And away we go...


8 posted on 03/08/2014 11:16:07 AM PST by miss marmelstein (Richard Lives Yet!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Nothing that MADE IN USA won’t fix. Now if there was only a candidate, we would be back on track to middle class prosperity and voting again for the GOP.


9 posted on 03/08/2014 11:16:49 AM PST by ex-snook (God is Love)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steve_Seattle

All that global warming driving these winter storms. Or something.


10 posted on 03/08/2014 11:18:41 AM PST by Psalm 144
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Steve_Seattle

They use any and every excuse they can. When employment went up because of Christmas workers, they didn’t mention it. It was real job growth. When they had that ATM charges debacle, the government blamed that as a job/economy killer. The nuclear plants in Japan, Tsunamis, earthquakes in Turkey, a cow farted in Spain, the Greek banking crisis, so-and-so didn’t get American Idol because of racism and employment went down - all that. Anything and everything.

The FACT is this government - the whole damned government - LIES!


11 posted on 03/08/2014 11:19:45 AM PST by Gaffer (Comprehensive Immigration Reform is just another name for Comprehensive Capitulation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
I despise "seasonally adjusted" or any measure by which the raw data has been finagled. It's kind of like the "wind chill temperature" in weather....just tell me the temperature, tell me how strong the wind is and its direction and how sunny/cloudy it is, and let me figure out what to wear.

With raw data, economists could explain what factors had an affect on it. Seasonal adjustment assumes that every February (for instance) is average. It's insane to take the thought process out of data analysis and expect good conclusions.

12 posted on 03/08/2014 11:28:20 AM PST by grania
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

“...larded tons of lipstick onto a couple of really ugly pigs:”

Best description yet of what we’re up against.

Worst. President. Ever. Worst. Congress. Ever. Worst. Complicit. Media. Ever.

EVER!


13 posted on 03/08/2014 11:39:30 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Steve_Seattle

That’s the way to media reports that it’s not Mr.’O’s fault.
It’s Pres. Bush’s fault because he is responsible for global warming which changed the weather pattern.


14 posted on 03/08/2014 11:50:38 AM PST by Vinylly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: volunbeer
How many small businesses are barely hanging on or even losing money considering how much of our economy is service/luxury based? Empty strip malls and larger retail outlets closing are not signs of economic health.

This is anecdotal, but it got me thinking yesterday. A local pizza place that is a family favorite closed within the last few weeks. I was sitting in traffic next to a little strip mall when I found that out (from a call from a family member who tried to place an order and got a machine). I looked at the strip mall and realized that a pastry shop that had been there for a long time is now 'for rent', as is a cleaners next to it. There is a pizza place there too but there were no cars out front and it looked dark.

I ended up going to a pizza place in another town. It sits next to one other retail outlet and three empty storefronts.

So will it be "Recovery Summer Part Five" in a few months?
15 posted on 03/08/2014 11:51:03 AM PST by LostInBayport (When there are more people riding in the cart than there are pulling it, the cart stops moving...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: STJPII

I remember them blaming El Nino & La Nina


16 posted on 03/08/2014 11:56:36 AM PST by Thom Pain (If you like your country you can keep it. Period.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Wyatt's Torch

Your thoughts on Mr. Blumer’s viewpoint?


17 posted on 03/08/2014 12:01:32 PM PST by John W (Viva Cristo Rey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LostInBayport

They love to claim “recovery” at every turn. I don’t see it on the ground level.

There is a disconnect on the economy between two groups of people - the average Joe (that’s me) and the macro-economist.

I see inflation in products we buy every day - energy, food, and other necessities. They see deflation in the big numbers (markets and banks). The stock market goes up and they are happy - the price of milk goes up and we are sad.

I won’t say one group is right and one is wrong. I think we just look at the world differently and perception is a powerful force in the economy.


18 posted on 03/08/2014 12:03:30 PM PST by volunbeer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: LostInBayport
"This is anecdotal, but it got me thinking yesterday. A local pizza place that is a family favorite closed within the last few weeks." This article from the WSJ about a month ago.  photo mom_pop_zps67748244.jpg Obviously, I know nothing about your local situation/economy or whether the pizza joint you speak of can make a decent pizza. But what is killing little pizza shops is their inability to take orders via 'net or smartphone. People go for the convenience and only a Pizza Hut or Round Table-sized enterprise can manage the infrastruture. People don't like the pressure of deciding upon their toppings while talking to a person on the phone. This leads to what I think could be a great biz idea, that of being an order aggregator for such small businesses. It would take some net chops, but someone could make some good money taking a 75 cents or a buck a pizza for processing the order, multiply that times 50 local restaurants. Or 500 local restaurants.
19 posted on 03/08/2014 12:10:23 PM PST by Attention Surplus Disorder (At no time was the Obama administration aware of what the Obama administration was doing)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: LostInBayport

I see the same type of thing in our area. Every strip center has more spaces “for lease” than are occupied. Even the large shopping areas - roofed and open have many empty stores. I see some familiar business close its doors every week. Hundreds and hundreds of homes for sale. There was a little uptick in the housing market, but it was gone in a flash. Now all the “For Sale” signs are being replaced with “For Rent” signs. Our business is dependent on small and medium businesses. None of them are hiring, all of them are tightening up as much as possible. None of them want to make capital outlays. They are so hesitant to make capital outlays that they often wait too long.

I fail to see any improvement in the economy in this area.


20 posted on 03/08/2014 12:12:57 PM PST by Roses0508
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-40 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson