Jobless Claims Spike, Food Prices Jump
No surprise to anyone except the so-called, “analyst forecasters”:
Jobless claims jump, wholesale food costs surge
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. jobless claims jumped to their highest level since October last week while food and energy costs lifted producer prices in December, pointing to headwinds for an economy that has shown fresh vigor.
[…]
Fresh vigor? C’mon! Give me a break! If the stimulus package were a Viagra pill, you’d be demanding a full refund with compensation for pain and suffering!
This has got to be the most flaccid “economic recovery” I’ve ever witnessed—which is exactly what I predicted two years ago when Bush and Obama decided to steal taxpayer money in an attempt to artificially inflate the economy.
No matter how Obama’s psychophants, err, sycophants try to spin it, our “economic aircraft“—if you will allow—is still in a spin because of government interference. And, speaking from experience, if you find yourself in a spin, let off the rudder and get your damn hands off of the yoke! If your aircraft is properly trimmed, the aircraft will correct itself.
[…]
The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly to 445,000 from 410,000 in the prior week, a Labor Department report showed. It was the biggest one-week jump in about six months and confounded analyst forecasts for a small drop to 405,000.
Confounded analyst forecasts? What’s the problem with these forecasters? I mean, seasonal hiring for Christmas helped reduce the unemployment picture slightly, and now those seasonal holiday workers are out of a job. No surprise there.
[…]
The four-week moving average of new claims, which strips out short-term volatility to provide a better sense of underlying trends, rose by 5,500 last week to 416,500.
A separate report from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank showed factory activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region accelerated less in December than originally reported.
Sounds to me like someone tried to spin the numbers…
FOOD GETS PRICIER
As last year drew to a close, food and energy costs were rising briskly at the wholesale level despite a tame underlying inflation trend.
U.S. producer prices climbed 1.1 percent in December after a 0.8 percent rise in November, according to another Labor Department report.
[…]
The rising prices producers receive ultimately could put upward pressure on retail prices, acting like a tax on consumers that could slow growth. Up to now, companies have not been able to pass increasing costs onto consumers because of weak demand, but that too has consequences.
“Eventually this means corporate profits could be squeezed,” said Robert Dye, senior economist at PNC Financial Services in Pittsburgh.
Gee, ya’ think?
A recent spike in global food costs has raised fears of a crisis in the poorer corners of the developing world. World food prices hit a record high last month, outstripping the levels that sparked riots in several countries in 2008, and key grains could rise further, the United Nations’ food agency said recently.
[..]
TOUGH SELL
The split between weak underlying inflation and high food and energy prices makes it harder for Federal Reserve officials to argue publicly that inflation is not a threat. A fear of inflation being too low has underpinned the Fed’s efforts to support the economy by purchasing government bonds.
Can you say, “Weimar Repulic?”
Another key factor is the bleak jobs picture, not helped by the Labor Department data.
The number of Americans who continued to claim benefits after an initial week of aid did retreat sharply to 3.88 million from 4.13 million, offering some reason for hope.
Still, the total number of Americans on benefit rolls, including those receiving extended benefits under emergency government programs, jumped to 9.19 million from 8.77 million.
Woohoo! More welfare recipients for you and I to support! /sarcasm
Explore posts in the same categories: Economics
13 January, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Everybody better be really nice to me from here on out or I’m not going to share the food I grow with them when the world begins to freeze. We may be broke, we may have millions of leftist parasites hanging on our backs but we still have that giant ball of fire in the sky, the rich soil below.
Now, back to building my bunker, solar heated, of course.
13 January, 2011 at 2:19 pm
I’m working twice as fast now. The namby pamby reaction of the right over the last several days is the reason.
13 January, 2011 at 3:06 pm
What? You’re not hiring “migrant workers” to help you out? Obviously, you are a racist!
/sarc
Cheers
13 January, 2011 at 4:21 pm
I’ll save a lounge chair and some sun block for ya Doc.
13 January, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Thanks. I appreciate the offer.
Anytime you want to go sledding, you’re welcome to come out here. 🙂
Cheers
13 January, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Consider a large natural gas buried tank, and wood burning stove. You should be able to go 6 months on the natural gas alone. Don’t forget water. You will need a well, or a catchment system.
Dried food, and a tank full of fish will help.
Kill!
14 January, 2011 at 3:29 am
The unemployment really freaks me out . Are you afraid of it ? in Israel you have many people who are poor , but here the government helps (similar to Europe , but less) Seems like israel is the “best of both worlds” (and I am not talking about Miley Cyrus’ song) they try to be wild and free like America , but also close to European culture , which many times fails . Still , israelis would concider america as an ally more than europpean nations , even though opinions about germany are good as well (no holocaust wining anymore , yes ) .
14 January, 2011 at 10:59 am
Well I have news for you israeli atheist, the only reason you guys have the best of both worlds is because much of the rest of the world is afraid to attack you as you are considered our friends. Yeah, thats why most of what you face is bad mouthing, finger pointing, from across the street, crouched down behind a wall.
14 January, 2011 at 9:54 am
I think it interesting that all these analysts have been “surprised”, “confounded”, whatever, so often in the last two years. Seems to me if they’re that bad at their job, it’s time for them to be in the unemployment stats!
14 January, 2011 at 11:31 am
We have a fairly decent food storage, which came in very handy when CavDad was injured and our income took a big hit. I pretty much avoided the grocery store for two months, only stopping in for fresh eggs and milk. Between our garden and stored dry goods we did not compromise. The family really enjoyed more baked bread and such.
Yesterday I went back to the store for some real shopping and almost had a stroke. The prices have jumped drastically in two months.
This has been a great dry run of sorts. We are going in with a country relative and getting chickens and a few head of cattle.
14 January, 2011 at 11:51 am
“We are going in with a country relative and getting chickens and a few head of cattle.”
Hey, that’s an excellent idea! I’ll look into it, too.
Cheers
15 January, 2011 at 11:25 am
“U.S. jobless claims jumped to their highest level since October”
Maybe that might have something to do with temporary holiday employment?
19 January, 2011 at 1:12 am
I find it’s costing more and more each month for food, for i.e. it’s costing around 600$ a month for 2 people for groceries.. Gas for the truck is another problem, as gas prices are going sky high here in Ontario Canada..Life is fun on a pension..