A reccesion is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth. While its possible that started in April 2008, it didnt start in January. Production is still increasing. Good news for the economy.

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http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

dude, lets pull an oldie but a goodie here; Rare Earth; "Get ready ....cause here it comes"..... the "team " will be by to whack this thread shortly...

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I am the same man and do not alter, it is you who change, since in fact you took my advice while unhurt, and waited for misfortune to repent of it....
But you must not be seduced by citizens like these nor be angry with me- who, if I voted for war, only did as you did yourselves.

Pericles's Funeral oration

Couple things....
.6% increase is basically flat...which reiterates what everyone has been saying - that things seem to not be further declining, just not getting better.
Secondly - these are preliminary results which are often slightly off...so you might be jumping the gun a bit.
Third - GDP is not indicative of an overall increase, with such a flat (aka "no") growth - there are numerous markets that are down...something even the most optimistic person can't deny.

Printing (what I do) is a bellwhether indicator...Printing last quarter was down .7% overall
Newspaper advertising, another bellwether - had record lows 1st quarter.

Basically - the economy is not good, I don't know a single person that thinks otherwise....I like your optimism jveihe...I wish it was accurate.

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The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

agreed....our biz bottom line right now, is basically being held up by apac and europe.....

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I am the same man and do not alter, it is you who change, since in fact you took my advice while unhurt, and waited for misfortune to repent of it....
But you must not be seduced by citizens like these nor be angry with me- who, if I voted for war, only did as you did yourselves.

Pericles's Funeral oration

Sometimes it seems like nobody here works for a living. Because wage growth has been flat to negative since 2001 but so many here are always touting the growing economy as if the statisitcs quoted have some relevance to real world economic concerns like buying groceries and paying utility bills.

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"America has believed that in differentiation, not in uniformity, lies the path of progress. It acted on this belief; it has advanced human happiness, and it has prospered."
Louis D. Brandeis - First Jewish Supreme Court Justice

Absolutely...this is the first generation since the depression that a worker entering into the same job, at the same plant - will make LESS actual dollar per hour than 10 years ago.
Not to mention reduction in benefits, high food costs etc. - no doubt for the blue collar Joe - this economy is nothing less than hell.

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The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

Maybe if you say it enough, it will be true. Meanwhile, the rest of will continue enjoying our lives.

__________________
http://www.fairtax.org

Elminate all taxes on income and replace with a national sales tax.

Ok how many here that actually work are earning the same as they did in 2001?

So you're solution to the fact that the economy is growing is to change the definition of which statistics to follow? And is this change based on your political ideology or an actual attempt to determine market trends?

Simply put a growing economy means more jobs. The primary market that's taken a hit the last couple of years is the housing market and that's all about predatory lending and illegal immigrant labour.

Could it be that those plants have become less dependent on labour thereby decrease the value of the labour a worker performs? Or it could be that the company is bogged down paying retirement packages the company can't afford at the expense of present day workers. You're making quite a few broad assumptions to validate your ideas.

While you're enjoying your lives, the rest of us will wait around to see if you figure out that other people exist in the universe besides yourself. I better pack a lunch.

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If you stop trying to bring the Bible into the classroom, I'll stop secretly sneaking biology textbooks into the pews on Saturday nights. Deal?

If the flag is precious to YOU, then don't burn YOURS.

I'm saying these statistics are meaningless to most americans and have no connection to the financial well being of most americans. I couldn't care less if people who need to follow the "market" use these measures all the time. I'm just tired of them being touted as meaningful to most people. For most americans the important statistics are wage growth and buying power. Net new jobs is also important but net new jobs that pay as much as the old ones is even more so.

Professional investors find these numbers very helpful but they are the wrong ones for determining public policy.

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"America has believed that in differentiation, not in uniformity, lies the path of progress. It acted on this belief; it has advanced human happiness, and it has prospered."
Louis D. Brandeis - First Jewish Supreme Court Justice

Consider this premise, due to technology, we will steadily be able to produce more, with fewer and fewer people. Is this a good or bad thing for mankind in the long-run?

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"It's a good feeling to shoot a bad guy. Something you democrats would never understand. Americans are homesteaders, we want a safe home, keep the money we make, and shoot bad guys!"

----Denny Crane

What ideas are you talking about?
I have listed some economic factual data, I am not aware of any "ideas" that I have put forth in this thread...nor am I making any "broad assumptions"...if you are not aware that for blue collar laborers things are not so good....then I don't know what planet your living on - it sure isn't the one I occupy.

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The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

Every citizen "needs" to follow the market. If you don't you really don't have a leg to stand on. And you can't just pick and choose which statistics you want to base your ideas on. In order to gain an accurate picture you have to review all available sources; again following the market.

You're making false assumptions based on this data. You said;

What is this based on? I didn't see a source. You are aware that the same job 10yrs ago might not have the value it does today aren't you? And when you mention plants I tend to think Detroit and the auto industry and how the unions and retired employee payouts are killing the US auto industry.