http://forehandedwa.com/blog Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:43:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en [caption id="" align="alignright" width="150" caption="still looking"][/caption] The Bureau of Labor Statistics offers this summary of unemployment measures: The six state measures are based on the same definitions as those published for the U.S.: [WA: 3.2%] U-1, persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer, as a percent of the civilian labor force; [WA: 4.8%] ... http://forehandedwa.com/blog/?p=1281 And another reason for caution about the current/coming rebound in our economy:  worker pay may fall.  Why? The huge, continuing numbers of unemployed press wages down -- businesses just don't need to compete in wages. At least that is the risk seen by the LA Time's business columnist in this "Market ... http://forehandedwa.com/blog/?p=1277 With President Obama touring Asia, Asian leaders have a bit to say about the global recession.  Some comments from an APEC meeting in Singapore, led off by World Bank president Zoellick as reported in the Wall Street Journal: Several expressed concern that the global stimulus, especially the flood of liquidity pumped ... http://forehandedwa.com/blog/?p=1275 So far, energy costs have not been central either to the analysis of our current Great Recession or of the recovery now struggling to announce itself. This article in London's Guardian pushes the cost of oil back to center stage.  The news: the US government during the Bush administration (should we ... http://forehandedwa.com/blog/?p=1269 The Sunday NYTimes has this survey of the 4 letters of the alternative shapes of our hoped-for recovery. I'm still the L-guy. You?  You can have a "V" -- quick, sharp recovery. Think basketball bouncing.  I don't think so. You can have your "U" -- strong recovery, but a bit delayed.  Think yo-yo ... http://forehandedwa.com/blog/?p=1267 The 3.5% GDP jump had everyon cheering "recovery is here!"  As Paul Krugman notes in this post, past recoveries show more is needed before we put the recession behind us. Note the stock market seemed to agree -- although let's not get too tied to translating day to day market changes ... http://forehandedwa.com/blog/?p=1265 Mark Zandy of Moody's has this chart. And remember that hours worked per week is at a historic low -- about 33, as I recall, down from 44 or so. http://forehandedwa.com/blog/?p=1262 Gloomy picture in the UK.  Expecting the 3rd quarter data to show a bit of growth signaling the technical end of the recession, the turnaround wasn't there as noted by the Telegraph's economics editor. This despite 'quantitative easing' (massive gov't. spending) paralleling our huge stimulus efforts.  Here's his chart. London Times ... http://forehandedwa.com/blog/?p=1254 The Wall St. Journal's "Real Time Economics" blog, carries this interactive chart showing the Fed's balance sheet  -- a look at what the Fed has been doing to fight the finance system freeze and our recession. Here is the blog post with the chart -- an example of what the hybrid ... http://forehandedwa.com/blog/?p=1252 Source: Dismal Scientist (economics blog) http://forehandedwa.com/blog/?p=1248