Jobless claims, goods orders signal modest rebound

[NNN0LHI]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ECONOMY?SITE=ILKAN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Dec 24, 12:56 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A fitful economic recovery is drawing strength from a stabilizing job market and signs that manufacturing will contribute to the rebound.

The latest sign was a government report Thursday that the number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week. And the four-week average for claims, which smooths out fluctuations, fell for the 16th straight week, to its lowest point since September 2008, when the financial crisis hit with full force.

Further evidence of a gradually healing economy was a report that orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket durable goods rose in November. The overall increase was less than expected. But excluding the volatile transportation category, the gains were twice what economists had forecast.

The Labor Department said the number of new jobless claims fell to a 452,000 last week, down 28,000 from the previous week, on a seasonally adjusted basis. That's a better performance than the decline to 470,000 that economists had expected.

And the four-week average for claims, which smooths out fluctuations, fell to 465,250 - the 16th straight weekly decline.

[old mark]

1. If the economy so much as stabilizes-or continues modest steady gains,

the GOP is in deep shit for 2010. The stock market is over 10,000, TARP money is being repaid. If manufacturing starts even a modest upward trend and employment keeps gaining, they might as well start looking for new jobs.
They voted against EVERY program.


mark

[still_one]

2. You can't say that, because then the prophets will be wrong about 2010. LOL

We have about a 50 seat majority in the House, and a good majority in the Senate, and for anyone to think that majority will flip in 2010 to the republicans, is talking out of their ass

That would be a major long shot

In fact, as you point out, if the economy does start to improve, the party of no, (the republicans), will have a problem keeping what they have

[old mark]

5. Would be interesting to see what we could do with a very large majority -

I'd love to see us pick up 4 or 5 seats in the Senate. The GOP would be alternately screaming and wimpering. Pretty amusing.

mark

[Kahuna]

3. Indeed.

:patriot:

[grahmhatch]

4. Nothing will truly move forward

Until we all recognize the real source, and fundamentals of the issue

http://dannymendlow.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/the-reality-of-the-economic-crisis/

This guy gets it.