Good signs: Retail sales up, CEOs in hiring mood

[babylonsister]

Good signs: Retail sales up, CEOs in hiring mood
AP2

– 2 hrs 48 mins ago


WASHINGTON – A strong start to the holiday season is raising confidence that the consumer is back and that 2011 could be a better year for the economy than expected.

Retail sales are rising, boosted by the best month for department stores in two years. Inflation remains tame. Businesses are restocking their shelves in anticipation of more consumer demand. And a survey of CEOs at America's biggest companies suggests hiring will pick up in the next six months.

High unemployment remains a concern. The Federal Reserve singled out the nation's 9.8 percent jobless rate Tuesday when it said it plans to maintain the pace of its $600 billion Treasury bond-buying program.

But the latest government data, combined with an emerging package of tax cuts and long-term unemployment benefits, are prompting economists to ramp up their forecasts for growth in the months ahead.

"We could be on the verge of a period of economic activity that will surprise everybody by how strong it is," said Jonathan Basile, a vice president for economics at Credit Suisse Securities. "That tends to happen in recoveries when everything starts to ignite at the same time."

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101214/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/us_economy

[Clio the Leo]

1. good news nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. We Start To Start Discussing Cabinet Positions In President Obama's Second Term

-:)

[Ikonoklast]

4. Do you think Hillary will step down from State?

That job would kill a normal person.

[Exilednight]

3. It's the holidays. Of course retail hiring will be up. What happens after January 1st when

all those people get laid off?

[Ikonoklast]

5. They gey to collect UI, that President Obama will secure for them in the coming tax deal.

Otherwise, if left to those espousing 'purity', the newly unemployed would get purity sandwiches, which aren't very filling, but make one feel oh, so superior.

[Exilednight]

7. Would you support Obama's decision if he suddenly changed course .............

and said that this piece of legislation, as written, goes against everything the Democratic party stands for?

And before you get all high and mighty about me and my purity, I would like to remind you of a candidate who said it is “possible to compromise so long as you know those principles that can never be compromised".

[XanaDUer]

6. Big woo

I just got let go with no warning from my job at a hospital.

They let me and about 150 others go, and HIRED fifty new people.

So let's hope things are looking up for anyone wanting a job, not just workers being replaced with people paid less money.

[sad sally]

8. Guess it depends on where you live.

Nalley's Chili just announced (with absolutely no warning to the 165 employees) that they were closing down the Tacoma plant and moving to a more labor-friendly State.

Suppose that means lower paying jobs somewhere else for somebody else...guess those CEO's are right, huh?