With credit to NOYB for bringing this up in another thread, and with the understanding
it deserves a separate thread to counter the lib claims of record unemployment and a
worsening economy, here are some facts on the growing economy:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2003Aug7.html

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Productivity Soars, Jobless Claims Drop to Six-Month Low

By Jeannine Aversa
Associated Press Writer
Thursday, August 7, 2003; 2:40 PM


America's business productivity soared, new claims for unemployment benefits dropped to
a six-month low and retailers reported strong sales, a triple dose of good news as the
economy tries to get back to full throttle.



Productivity -- the amount that an employee produces per hour of work -- grew at an
annual rate of 5.7 percent in the April to June quarter, the best showing since the
third quarter of 2002, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That marked an
improvement from the 2.1 percent growth rate in productivity posted in the first three
months of this year.

In a second report from the department, new applications for jobless benefits fell by a
seasonally adjusted 3,000 to a six-month low of 390,000 for the work week ending Aug.
2. It marked the third week in a row that claims were below 400,000, a level associated
with a weak job market. This suggest the pace of layoffs is stabilizing. Claims hit a
high this year of 459,000 during the work week that ended April 19.

A third report showed the nation's largest retailers finally got a break in July as
warm weather and heavy discounting helped lift sales above expectations for many
merchants, even the struggling department store sector.

All industry segments appeared to benefit from an improved selling environment.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the industry leader, boosted its profit outlook for the second
quarter. J.C. Penney Co. Inc., Kohl's Corp. and Gap Inc. were among the retailers that
reported sales that beat analysts' forecasts.

On Wall Street, stocks moved higher. The Dow Jones industrials gained 43 points and the
Nasdaq was up 4 points in trading around midday.

With scattered signs of an economic revival, economists expect the Federal Reserve to
hold a key short-term interest rate at a 45-year low of 1 percent at its next meeting
on Aug. 12.

Some economists are predicting a growth rate in the second half in the range of 3.5
percent to 4 percent or more, as near rock-bottom short-term interest rates and a fresh
round of tax cuts take hold.

Both the productivity and jobless claims figures were better than economists were
expecting. They were forecasting productivity to grow at a 4 percent pace in the second
quarter and for jobless claims to rise.

For the economy's long-term health and rising living standards, solid productivity
gains are crucial. They allow the economy to grow faster without triggering inflation.
Companies can pay workers more without raising prices, which would eat up those wage
gains. And, productivity gains also can bolster a company's profitability.

Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress last month that it has been unusual for
companies to achieve healthy gains in productivity when the performance of the overall
economy has been so lackluster.

"To some extent, companies under pressure to cut costs in an environment of still-tepid
sales growth and an uncertain economic outlook might be expected to search aggressively
for ways to employ resources more efficiently," Greenspan said. "That they have
succeeded, in general, over a number of quarters suggests that a prior accumulation of
inefficiencies was available to be eliminated," he added.

One recent consequence of improving productivity, however, has been an ability of many
businesses to pare existing workforces and still meet increases in demand, Greenspan
said.

In the second quarter, businesses boosted output at a 3.4 percent rate, up from a 1.4
percent growth rate in the first quarter. But workers' hours were cut at a 2.2 percent
rate in the second quarter, following a 0.7 percent rate of decline in the prior three
months.

Still, people who kept their jobs made gains. Workers' real hourly compensation rose at
a 2.9 percent rate in the second quarter, the biggest increase since the third quarter
of 2000, and up from a 0.2 percent growth rate in the first quarter.

Companies' unit labor costs, meanwhile, fell at a rate of 2.1 percent in the second
quarter, boding well for profit margins. That compared with a 2 percent rate of
increase in the first quarter.
- - - - --

Want more?

According to the latest report from the US Department of Commerce:

-The GDP increased in both the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2003

-Personal and disposable income increased in both the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2003

-Corporate profits increased in the 1st quarter of 2003 (2nd quarter report not yet
out)

http://www.bea.doc.gov/

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

Sorry libs, the sky certainly ain't a fallin'. In fact, just the opposite, except of
course for your aspirations of a presidential win in '04.

And this has "what" to do with boating?

============================================

On Thu, 07 Aug 2003 23:35:27 GMT, "Jim"
wrote:

With credit to NOYB for bringing this up in another thread, and with the understanding
it deserves a separate thread to counter the lib claims of record unemployment and a
worsening economy, here are some facts on the growing economy:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2003Aug7.html

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Productivity Soars, Jobless Claims Drop to Six-Month Low

By Jeannine Aversa
Associated Press Writer
Thursday, August 7, 2003; 2:40 PM


America's business productivity soared, new claims for unemployment benefits dropped to
a six-month low and retailers reported strong sales, a triple dose of good news as the
economy tries to get back to full throttle.



Productivity -- the amount that an employee produces per hour of work -- grew at an
annual rate of 5.7 percent in the April to June quarter, the best showing since the
third quarter of 2002, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That marked an
improvement from the 2.1 percent growth rate in productivity posted in the first three
months of this year.

In a second report from the department, new applications for jobless benefits fell by a
seasonally adjusted 3,000 to a six-month low of 390,000 for the work week ending Aug.
2. It marked the third week in a row that claims were below 400,000, a level associated
with a weak job market. This suggest the pace of layoffs is stabilizing. Claims hit a
high this year of 459,000 during the work week that ended April 19.

A third report showed the nation's largest retailers finally got a break in July as
warm weather and heavy discounting helped lift sales above expectations for many
merchants, even the struggling department store sector.

All industry segments appeared to benefit from an improved selling environment.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the industry leader, boosted its profit outlook for the second
quarter. J.C. Penney Co. Inc., Kohl's Corp. and Gap Inc. were among the retailers that
reported sales that beat analysts' forecasts.

On Wall Street, stocks moved higher. The Dow Jones industrials gained 43 points and the
Nasdaq was up 4 points in trading around midday.

With scattered signs of an economic revival, economists expect the Federal Reserve to
hold a key short-term interest rate at a 45-year low of 1 percent at its next meeting
on Aug. 12.

Some economists are predicting a growth rate in the second half in the range of 3.5
percent to 4 percent or more, as near rock-bottom short-term interest rates and a fresh
round of tax cuts take hold.

Both the productivity and jobless claims figures were better than economists were
expecting. They were forecasting productivity to grow at a 4 percent pace in the second
quarter and for jobless claims to rise.

For the economy's long-term health and rising living standards, solid productivity
gains are crucial. They allow the economy to grow faster without triggering inflation.
Companies can pay workers more without raising prices, which would eat up those wage
gains. And, productivity gains also can bolster a company's profitability.

Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress last month that it has been unusual for
companies to achieve healthy gains in productivity when the performance of the overall
economy has been so lackluster.

"To some extent, companies under pressure to cut costs in an environment of still-tepid
sales growth and an uncertain economic outlook might be expected to search aggressively
for ways to employ resources more efficiently," Greenspan said. "That they have
succeeded, in general, over a number of quarters suggests that a prior accumulation of
inefficiencies was available to be eliminated," he added.

One recent consequence of improving productivity, however, has been an ability of many
businesses to pare existing workforces and still meet increases in demand, Greenspan
said.

In the second quarter, businesses boosted output at a 3.4 percent rate, up from a 1.4
percent growth rate in the first quarter. But workers' hours were cut at a 2.2 percent
rate in the second quarter, following a 0.7 percent rate of decline in the prior three
months.

Still, people who kept their jobs made gains. Workers' real hourly compensation rose at
a 2.9 percent rate in the second quarter, the biggest increase since the third quarter
of 2000, and up from a 0.2 percent growth rate in the first quarter.

Companies' unit labor costs, meanwhile, fell at a rate of 2.1 percent in the second
quarter, boding well for profit margins. That compared with a 2 percent rate of
increase in the first quarter.
- - - - --

Want more?

According to the latest report from the US Department of Commerce:

-The GDP increased in both the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2003

-Personal and disposable income increased in both the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2003

-Corporate profits increased in the 1st quarter of 2003 (2nd quarter report not yet
out)

http://www.bea.doc.gov/

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

Sorry libs, the sky certainly ain't a fallin'. In fact, just the opposite, except of
course for your aspirations of a presidential win in '04.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
And this has "what" to do with boating?



Exactly nothing, as the subject clearly states.

And what does your contribution to this thread have to do with boating?

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
And this has "what" to do with boating?



Absolutely nothing, as the subject header clearly states.

And what does your post have to do with boating?

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
And this has "what" to do with boating?



Absolutely nothing, as the subject header clearly states.

And what does your post have to do with boating?

Jim wrote:

With credit to NOYB for bringing this up in another thread, and with the understanding
it deserves a separate thread to counter the lib claims of record unemployment and a
worsening economy, here are some facts on the growing economy:

Remember back in early 2001 when many of the same sources were singing happy tunes about
"no recession?" Were you dumb enough to believe them then?

All the responsible business press is reporting worse sales, more layoffs, durable good
orders down... new housing starts last week were the lowest since the early 1990s... but
hey, why let reality in and spoil your little party?

From the point of view of Bush & Co and his supporters, the economy doesn't matter. Do you
really think that people with annual incomes of $1mill per year are worried about layoffs
or durable good orders?

DSK

Jim wrote:

With credit to NOYB for bringing this up in another thread, and with the understanding
it deserves a separate thread to counter the lib claims of record unemployment and a
worsening economy, here are some facts on the growing economy:

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
With credit to NOYB for bringing this up in another thread, and with the
understanding
it deserves a separate thread to counter the lib claims of record
unemployment and a
worsening economy, here are some facts on the growing economy:

Ya got balz, Jim.

Your report does not support what you purport! You can run that skunk out of
the bushes all afternoon and try to convince us country boys it's really a
black and white house cat, but the perfume gives it away nonetheless.

Let's look at a few of the details in the report you're so proud of, shall we?

new claims for unemployment benefits dropped to
a six-month low

A one-week drop in the number of "new claims" for unemployment only means that
the layoffs have slowed down a little bit.
Has nothing to do with how many people are employed, merely defines the rate at
which new people are joining the ranks of the unemployed. As the work force
shrinks, layoffs will naturally slow down. Much of the deadwood has already
been chopped- along with a good bit of the forest core.

Simple math: as the workforce shrinks, a decreasing number of people losing
their jobs in a given week can actually represent
a steady or even increasing *percentage* of the diminishing base.


Ahh, but if you bothered to read my entire post, it was not only a one week drop I
reported but a drop in the month of July. Spin it anyway you want to. The fact is
that unemployment dropped in July.




Productivity -- the amount that an employee produces per hour of work -- grew
at an
annual rate of 5.7 percent in the April to June quarter, the best showing
since the
third quarter of 2002, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Good news for employers and investors, true. How does this get our people back
to work?


Another spin on your part. The fact is that productivity increased for 2 straight
quarters.


In a second report from the department, new applications for jobless benefits
fell by a
seasonally adjusted 3,000 to a six-month low of 390,000 for the work week
ending Aug.
2. It marked the third week in a row that claims were below 400,000, a level
associated
with a weak job market.

400,000 layoffs a week is considered a "weak job market?" No doubt. So, if only
390,000 people are involuntarily separated from the source of their paychecks
the Bush Administration is doing a whiz-bang job of managing the economy? Your
standards are far too relaxed.

I have some things I have to get done tonight. I will respond to the rest of your
dribble tomorrow.

What does this have to do with rec.boats? Post this stuff elsewhere...

--
Marty S.
Baltimore, MD USA


"Jim" wrote in message
et...
With credit to NOYB for bringing this up in another thread, and with the
understanding
it deserves a separate thread to counter the lib claims of record
unemployment and a
worsening economy, here are some facts on the growing economy:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2003Aug7.html

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Productivity Soars, Jobless Claims Drop to Six-Month Low

By Jeannine Aversa
Associated Press Writer
Thursday, August 7, 2003; 2:40 PM


America's business productivity soared, new claims for unemployment
benefits dropped to
a six-month low and retailers reported strong sales, a triple dose of good
news as the
economy tries to get back to full throttle.



Productivity -- the amount that an employee produces per hour of work --
grew at an
annual rate of 5.7 percent in the April to June quarter, the best showing
since the
third quarter of 2002, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That marked
an
improvement from the 2.1 percent growth rate in productivity posted in the
first three
months of this year.

In a second report from the department, new applications for jobless
benefits fell by a
seasonally adjusted 3,000 to a six-month low of 390,000 for the work week
ending Aug.
2. It marked the third week in a row that claims were below 400,000, a
level associated
with a weak job market. This suggest the pace of layoffs is stabilizing.
Claims hit a
high this year of 459,000 during the work week that ended April 19.

A third report showed the nation's largest retailers finally got a break
in July as
warm weather and heavy discounting helped lift sales above expectations
for many
merchants, even the struggling department store sector.

All industry segments appeared to benefit from an improved selling
environment.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the industry leader, boosted its profit outlook for
the second
quarter. J.C. Penney Co. Inc., Kohl's Corp. and Gap Inc. were among the
retailers that
reported sales that beat analysts' forecasts.

On Wall Street, stocks moved higher. The Dow Jones industrials gained 43
points and the
Nasdaq was up 4 points in trading around midday.

With scattered signs of an economic revival, economists expect the Federal
Reserve to
hold a key short-term interest rate at a 45-year low of 1 percent at its
next meeting
on Aug. 12.

Some economists are predicting a growth rate in the second half in the
range of 3.5
percent to 4 percent or more, as near rock-bottom short-term interest
rates and a fresh
round of tax cuts take hold.

Both the productivity and jobless claims figures were better than
economists were
expecting. They were forecasting productivity to grow at a 4 percent pace
in the second
quarter and for jobless claims to rise.

For the economy's long-term health and rising living standards, solid
productivity
gains are crucial. They allow the economy to grow faster without
triggering inflation.
Companies can pay workers more without raising prices, which would eat up
those wage
gains. And, productivity gains also can bolster a company's profitability.

Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress last month that it has been
unusual for
companies to achieve healthy gains in productivity when the performance of
the overall
economy has been so lackluster.

"To some extent, companies under pressure to cut costs in an environment
of still-tepid
sales growth and an uncertain economic outlook might be expected to search
aggressively
for ways to employ resources more efficiently," Greenspan said. "That they
have
succeeded, in general, over a number of quarters suggests that a prior
accumulation of
inefficiencies was available to be eliminated," he added.

One recent consequence of improving productivity, however, has been an
ability of many
businesses to pare existing workforces and still meet increases in demand,
Greenspan
said.

In the second quarter, businesses boosted output at a 3.4 percent rate, up
from a 1.4
percent growth rate in the first quarter. But workers' hours were cut at a
2.2 percent
rate in the second quarter, following a 0.7 percent rate of decline in the
prior three
months.

Still, people who kept their jobs made gains. Workers' real hourly
compensation rose at
a 2.9 percent rate in the second quarter, the biggest increase since the
third quarter
of 2000, and up from a 0.2 percent growth rate in the first quarter.

Companies' unit labor costs, meanwhile, fell at a rate of 2.1 percent in
the second
quarter, boding well for profit margins. That compared with a 2 percent
rate of
increase in the first quarter.
- - - - --

Want more?

According to the latest report from the US Department of Commerce:

-The GDP increased in both the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2003

-Personal and disposable income increased in both the 1st and 2nd quarters
of 2003

-Corporate profits increased in the 1st quarter of 2003 (2nd quarter
report not yet
out)

http://www.bea.doc.gov/

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

Sorry libs, the sky certainly ain't a fallin'. In fact, just the
opposite, except of
course for your aspirations of a presidential win in '04.

Ahh, but if you bothered to read my entire post, it was not only a one week
drop I
reported but a drop in the month of July. Spin it anyway you want to. The
fact is
that unemployment dropped in July.

If it did, that fact is *not supported* by this news account. The news story
simply says that the rate at which additional people became unemployed slowed
down.
Where, oh where, does it say the total number of people working went up?

It does say that employers are using the productivity increases to "pare" the
workforce a bit. To me, that means decrease the workforce.

Good news for employers and investors, true. How does this get our people
back
to work?


Another spin on your part. The fact is that productivity increased for 2
straight
quarters.

The discussion has been centered around unemployment, not productivity. For
years, we made huge gains in productivity by replacing people with computers.
Ten typists fired, two programmers hired, and productivity per employee is way
up. I am not disputing your productivity claim.

Your
standards are far too relaxed.

I have some things I have to get done tonight. I will respond to the rest of
your
dribble tomorrow.



If you're responding to "dribble", your standards are not only relaxed, they
are unconscious.