Economy Doesn't Contract As Much as Expected; Still, For the Year, A Record Decline

Recession really winding down? 0.7% contraction may be better than the previously-estimated 1.0% contraction, but it still seems pretty bad.

On a year-on-year basis, growth is down a record 3.8% in the second quarter.

In another article, an analyst claims...

"The downturn appears to have concluded this summer, and the economy is on track to grow for the first time in more than year in the third quarter. The initial phase of growth is being driven by rapid recoveries in housing and manufacturing, diminishing drags from equipment spending and nonresidential construction, and government support."

I don't get the claim that the downturn has "concluded" when the economy is still contracting and jobs are still being shed -- a quarter of a million this last time.

Doesn't a recovery still include the notion of actual recovery, and not merely "contracting and shedding jobs on a slower basis"?

Ah, well. Different rules for Captain Wonderful.

Please excuse the virulent racism contained, in "code-words," in this posting.

posted by Ace at 02:32 PM

| Access Comments