U.S. economy today surpasses the Clinton era

[Ripsnort]

Best in 20 years as a matter of fact...
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=668&u=/ap/20031223/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/economy_5&printer=1

[Mini D]

Mistatement and a half rip.  Learn the meaning of the word "rate" please.  Air always rushes back into a vacuum.

MiniD

[Ripsnort]

mini, you do better argueing with strippers...


Growth means spending, spending fuels economy.

Also, retail sales are doing good:

With the number of shopping days before Christmas beginning to dwindle, U.S. consumers stepped up their spending during the week ending December 13, ShopperTrak reported in its National Retail Sales Estimate (NRSE). Week-over-week sales jumped by an impressive 17.0 percent from the week ending December 6, marking the second straight week of strong sales in this category, while year-over-year sales gained 3.9 percent from the same week in 2002.
http://retailindustry.about.com/library/holiday/blholidayspending03.htm

[Eagler]

when the total shopping numbers include online purchases, they are going to skyrocket

internet shopping is huge this year, the totals have not been added to the reported numbers yet

[Twist]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
mini, you do better argueing with strippers...  

sig material....

[oboe]

Good God, Rip, you are deluded if you think this economy is anything close to what we had under Clinton.   That's like looking at the Vikings' 45-20 victory over the Chiefs and pronouncing them as good as the '85 Bears.

[capt. apathy]

The U.S. economy, propelled by tax cuts and low interest rates, roared ahead at an 8.2 percent annual rate in the third quarter, the best showing in nearly 20 years, while Americans' incomes and spending both showed healthy gains in November.

it didn't catch up, it's increasing at a faster rate.  big difference.

with the same type of logic-  a man could start out making $5 per hour, and recieve a 25cent pay raise every year for 20 years.  at the end of the 20 years he would be making $10.

at that point someone else takes over the running of his company, and his pay falls to $2 per hour.  over the next 2 years he gets a $1 raise per year.  now he's making $4 per hour and his new boss is telling him that financially he's doing the better than he has in the last 20 years because he's increasing at a higher rate.

[Twist]

Originally posted by Eagler
when the total shopping numbers include online purchases, they are going to skyrocket

internet shopping is huge this year, the totals have not been added to the reported numbers yet

Good point, I think I did 95 pct of my shopping this year via the 'net, but that may slow down when they start hitting me with local and state sales taxes.

[kappa]

Ripsnort..

Dont you remember the difference in spending real money as opposed to borrowing the money and spending it? These are two big differences..

If the economy is the greatest in 20 years, I'd suspect all those folks that were laid off have gone back to work? O wait, best in 20 years?? That means all those peps that lost jobs have better higher paying jobs now... All those other peps that had no jobs before all have jobs now?? That must mean the unemployment level must be lower than 4%??

Best economy in 20 years? That must mean the Bush administration has balanced the budget? No deficit this year? How much did the administration decide to pay on national debt? Must be a large sum w/ such a good economy....

Rip, why dont you try to look at the larger picture. Best in 20 years? Perhaps it was the best month in 20 years? lol Come'on man... I'm not saying its all gloom and doom, but to say the economy is better now than anytime during Clinton's administration is a testament to williness of some to back an ignorant and failing economic plan by our president.. Sure, this month might in some areas indicate a strong recovery, but if you take into account the ever out of control national debt, short term means very little....

[Tilt]

US National Debt

US Balance of trade since 74

Record US balance of trade deficit


Shrub has prompted spending when the US BoT can't afford it.

Why?

Well because there is an election coming...

Successive US elections have fueled poor economic strategm over  years. Its a big nation with a big ecomomy but the writing is on the wall if no attempt is made to correct it.

Economic flywheels (like real ones) dont stop unless they break.

The US will not be able to "tarrif" its way out if it does not do some basic national book keeping.  (ie balance them)

Like pa said............... read my lips


and

If you want those folk who were laid off back at work you better stop buying the imports. Because thats what the US boom is doing.

[bigsky]

the best yardstick to measure the economy is the help wanted job listings in the local newspaper.

[_Schadenfreude_]

Well I like it that anything from the USA is cheaper than it has been for years thanks to the £1.00 = $1.76 exchange rate - keep up the fantastic work guys!! My AH sub is only £8 per month and some change these days...a total bargain!!

[Mini D]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
mini, you do better argueing with strippers...


Growth means spending, spending fuels economy.

Also, retail sales are doing good:

Rip... your ignorance abounds.

I'm not arguing about whether or not the economy is growing (A word you did not use in the first post btw).  The reason for accelerated growth is because there's so much room for it.  There's no growth at the peak of the economy... negative growth on the downslide and positive growth on the upswing.  This just means there's alot of upswing needed.

It's good news that there is growth.  To say the economy surpasses that of the clinton era is a complete lie.

MiniD

[Thrawn]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Growth means spending, spending fuels economy.

Only if you smoke big crack rocks.  Growth means investment, and using that investment to increase production.

[LePaul]

Just dont let them tax Internet sales!!