Is the Recession Really Over? Experts Declare End in June 2009

[Norman.Galois]

Since things are going so well with the economy, just like they were in 2007 and 2008, I sure some can appreciate that - Food stamps keep climbing

Food stamps now cost the government $5.6 billion per month, as more and more people sign up for the benefit.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Paper-Economy/2010/1009/Food-stamps-keep-climbing

Christian Science?

 

[lisab]

Christian Science?

Don't let the name fool you; the Christian Science Monitor is a respected organization that holds itself to a high standard of journalism. In my opinion .

 

[OmCheeto]

Yes, that was the thread - thanks, Russ.

Oh. I feel terrible. I didn't realize https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=2145226&postcount=1384".

But anyways, I'm still of the opinion that government spending is trivial in the face of pandemic of fear that has people hoarding their money like Hetty Green.

If anyone thinks the nation should be doing just fine with a 40% reduction in consumer spending, well, let's just say I think you need your head examined.

I think I'll go shopping tomorrow.

ps. My stocks finished the week in the black. First time since https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=2708391&postcount=261".
I'm ahead 22 cents! Woo Hoo!

 

[OmCheeto]

Just to make sure everyone sees it when you're trying to interpret what that graph means, note the difference in the two scales: Both the starting value and in the increment.

Well, it's really not very exciting if you don't stretch things out a bit.

Government vs Private employment in the months of September from 2000 through 2010, in millions.

A bit more exciting is the percentage change from one year to the next:

The far left green and blue bars represent the change in employment from Sept 2000 through Sept 2001, etc to 2009 through 2010 on the far right.

Actually, except for the big dip in private employment between Sept 2008 and Sept 2009, it's fairly boring also. Unless 1 or 2% changes per year make you feel like you're on a roller coaster.

:zzz:

ref: http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?ce": Total Private Employment - CES0500000001 & Government Employment - CES9000000001

 

[Astronuc]

Something to keep in mind for the future:

Now, as the United States and other Western nations struggle to recover from a debt and property bubble of their own, a growing number of economists are pointing to Japan as a dark vision of the future. Even as the Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, prepares a fresh round of unconventional measures to stimulate the economy, there are growing fears that the United States and many European economies could face a prolonged period of slow growth or even, in the worst case, deflation, something not seen on a sustained basis outside Japan since the Great Depression.

. . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/world/asia/17japan.html

We could start an new thread - What is still wrong with the US economy? Pretty much the same as 3 or 4 years ago. Too much debt, too much uncovered liabilities, insufficient savings, insufficient generation of wealth, chronic government deficits, chronic trade deficits, too much reliance on foreign energy sources, . . . .

One possible trajectory for the US economy -

Hard-hit British heartland braces for cuts
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101016/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_britain_bracing_for_cuts

 

[jdnoslo]

Anyone thinking we are out of the woods just needs to turn off CNN and take a look around outside.