On Fri, 5 Jun 2020 09:00:27 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:



Labor Department released numbers for May that surprised
all economists and their dour predictions.

Non-farm job increase of 2.5 million.

Unemployment drops to 13.3 percent
from 14.7 percent in April.

(Predictions were for unemployment to rise to
19 to 20 percent.)

Data is through the middle (12th) of May that
included only the early stages of "opening"
the country. Next month's data could be much
better if this trend continues.

How much of that is just people who gave up trying to get unemployment
from a system that failed from the overload?
I do hope it is real but until we are really reopened I am skeptical.
I do understand a lot of businesses have found a way around these
shutdowns tho. Construction and the service trades are going full tilt
around here. I know my trade neighbors say they are staying busy.
We are also starting to see restaurants open. I was in Rusty's the
other day (sports bar, restaurant) and there were 20 customers inside
at tables. They removed about half the tables and all the bar stools
so people could spread out but other than that it was business as
normal. Not a mask in sight.
It is pretty hard to eat or drink with a mask on.