http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/thebusheconomy/ en-us Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:11:11 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166393/posts "... to win over Senate Democrats, Mr. Bush both phased in the tax rate reductions and settled for politically popular but economically feckless tax rebate checks." "...Mr. Bush's spending record is less admirable, especially during his first term. He indulged the majority Republicans on Capitol Hill, refusing to veto overspending ..." Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166393/posts#comment Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:11:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133373/posts Last week, assembled at Miami’s InterContinental Hotel for a meeting of the Republican Governors Association, the governors seemed cheerful. The G.O.P. had lost only one statehouse on Election Day. The prospects for a Republican pickup in Virginia in 2009 were decent, and good candidates were plotting runs in states like California, Pennsylvania and Ohio in 2010. There was even a sense of liberation in the air. For the last 14 years, there has been either a Republican Congress or a Republican White House, or sometimes both. Now the Republican governors are free of those heavy taps on the shoulder from... NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133373/posts#comment Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:16:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2112433/posts DOW currently down 561 points. tatown http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2112433/posts#comment Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:38:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2025780/posts U.S. stock futures are pulling off their lows as an employment reading shows that the private sector added jobs last month. The ADP National Employment Report arriving Wednesday shows that the private sector added 40,000 jobs in May, rather than declined by 60,000 as economists had been expecting, according to Dow Jones Newswires. Dow Jones industrial average futures are down 20, or 0.16 percent, at 12,384, off their earlier lows. AP via Yahoo! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2025780/posts#comment Wed, 4 Jun 2008 12:53:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2022916/posts WASHINGTON - The economy plodded ahead at a 0.9 percent pace in the first quarter — slightly better than first estimated — but still underscoring caution on the part of consumers and businesses walloped by housing, credit and financial problems. The new reading on gross domestic product, released by the Commerce Department on Thursday, was an improvement from the government’s initial growth estimate for the January-to-March quarter as well as the economy’s performance in the final quarter of last year. Both periods were pegged at a 0.6 percent growth rate. Gross domestic product, or GDP, measures the value of all... MSNBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2022916/posts#comment Thu, 29 May 2008 13:02:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2021884/posts Sales of new homes rose in April for the first time in six months although the unexpected increase still left activity near the lowest level in 17 years. The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that sales of new homes rose 3.3 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 526,000 units. But the government revised March activity lower to show an even bigger drop of 11 percent to an annual rate of 509,000, which was the weakest pace for sales since April 1991. Economists believe that new home sales will remain weak for some time as the housing industry... Yahoo News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2021884/posts#comment Tue, 27 May 2008 14:24:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2021942/posts Sales of new homes rose in April for the first time in six months although the unexpected increase still left activity near the lowest level in 17 years. ADVERTISEMENT The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that sales of new homes rose 3.3 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 526,000 units. But the government revised March activity lower to show an even bigger drop of 11 percent to an annual rate of 509,000, which was the weakest pace for sales since April 1991. Economists believe that new home sales will remain weak for some time as the housing... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2021942/posts#comment Tue, 27 May 2008 16:16:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2017288/posts ASSOCIATED PRESS - Construction of new homes posted the biggest increase in more than two years in April. While it was a rare bit of good news for the housing market, analysts said it's far too soon to declare an end to the extensive slump. The Commerce Department reported yesterday that housing construction rose by 8.2 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.03 million units. Building of single-family homes continued to weaken, however. The growth came from a big jump in apartment construction. Analysts predicted the surprising rebound in April would be temporary given the headwinds... The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2017288/posts#comment Sat, 17 May 2008 11:31:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2016817/posts Initial construction of U.S. homes rose unexpectedly in April, according to a government report released Friday. Privately owned housing starts rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,032,000 in April, according to the Commerce Department. The rate was up 8.2% from March's revised reading of 954,000 but 30.6% lower than April of 2007. Economists were expecting housing starts to decline to 940,000, according to consensus estimates compiled by Briefing.com. Construction of new single-family homes, however, was at a rate of 692,000 in April, or 1.7% below March's number. That is the lowest reading of that measure since January 1991.... CNNMoney http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2016817/posts#comment Fri, 16 May 2008 12:46:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2011942/posts Whatever happened to the Great Depression? Not the real one from 70 years ago, the lost decade of unimagined misery and Steinbeckian angst, the worst period in the history of modern capitalism. I mean the replay we were promised this year. The one we were told was the inevitable counterpart to the greatest financial crisis since a couple of medieval Italians first sat down on a Florentine bench and invented the word “bank”. I don’t know about you but I feel a bit cheated. There we all were, led to believe by so many commentators that the sub-prime crisis was... The Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2011942/posts#comment Tue, 6 May 2008 14:52:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010757/posts President George W. Bush may turn out to be the top economic forecaster in the country. About a month ago he told reporters, "We're not in a recession, we're in a slowdown." At a White House news conference a few weeks later, despite the fact that reporters pressed him to use the "R" word, Mr. Bush refused. And on Friday, after the most recent jobs report -- which produced a much-smaller-than-expected decline in corporate payrolls, a huge 362,000 increase in the more entrepreneurial household survey (the best gain in five months), and a historically low 5 percent unemployment rate (4.95... Real Clear Politics http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010757/posts#comment Sat, 3 May 2008 17:47:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010561/posts WASHINGTON (AP) -- The economy showed off unexpected signs of resilience Friday as job losses slowed, the dollar gained a bit of muscle for a change and there were even indications that food prices may be easing. The unemployment rate dipped, though that may not last. The latest barometers flashed encouraging signs that the economic slowdown may not be as pronounced as some had feared. Still, there's much caution -- about housing, credit and other problems. "Economic or financial conditions could take an unexpected stumble at any time," warned Stephen Stanley, chief economist at RBS Greenwich Capital. Employers eliminated 20,000... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010561/posts#comment Sat, 3 May 2008 03:19:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010174/posts Employers trimmed a less-than-expected 20,000 jobs in April, marking the 4th straight month of losses; unemployment falls to 5%. CNNMoney http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010174/posts#comment Fri, 2 May 2008 12:35:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2009600/posts I once heard Rush Limbaugh say the way he deals with a recession is to “not participate in it.” Today we found out that in our current so-called recession, the economy itself is not participating. You’ve heard, of course, about the “recession.” The Associated Press has been referring to it as an established fact for much of the year. Every day, we see interviews with economists who grimly warn that we are surely already in a recession. The only debate is how bad it will get. Oops. Some facts just arrived, and they’re not what the media, the economists and... North Star Writers Group http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2009600/posts#comment Thu, 1 May 2008 11:35:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982122/posts NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Employers made their deepest cut in staffing in almost five years in February, the Labor Department reported Friday. There was a net loss of 63,000 jobs, which is the biggest decline since March 2003 and weaker than the revised 22,000 jobs lost in January. Economists had forecast a gain of 25,000 jobs. The weak report fueled already mounting recession fears and is likely to keep the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates further when it meets later this month. "Based on today's Employment Report, if we are not in a recession, it is a darned good imitation... CNN http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982122/posts#comment Fri, 7 Mar 2008 20:50:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1963163/posts Labor Department: Non-Farm Payrolls Drop 17,000 in January; Unemployment at 4.9% FOX BIZ CHANNEL http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1963163/posts#comment Fri, 1 Feb 2008 13:42:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1948028/posts WASHINGTON (AP) -- Amid new worries about a possible recession, the housing slump and rising oil prices, President Bush is exploring an economic stimulus package to reinforce the U.S. economy. White House press secretary Dana Perino said Thursday that Bush is closely monitoring economic trends and is seeking input from his economic advisers on the pros and cons of such a package. "The president has indicated that he will not make up his mind as to whether or not to lay out a package until the State of the Union," Perino said about the president's speech on Jan. 28. "Our... Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1948028/posts#comment Fri, 4 Jan 2008 02:31:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1947704/posts Orders to U.S. factories jumped in November by the largest amount in four months, but a key gauge of business investment fell for a second straight month, raising new worries about the strength of manufacturing. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that orders for manufactured goods rose by 1.5 percent in November, but the increase was driven by a big jump in demand for oil, reflecting surging prices. Demand for big-ticket durable goods actually fell by 0.1 percent in November Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1947704/posts#comment Thu, 3 Jan 2008 15:18:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946640/posts Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. is ending 2007 with a whine rather than a whimper. It is tough to keep track of what's collapsing faster, home prices or the dollar, and the financial market crisis caused by it has many seers talking recession as we enter 2008. As always, that delicious negativity receives the lion's share of media attention. But, in many ways, this past year was a pretty good one, and no, I am not just a talking about Boston's sports fans. Thus, to ring in the New Year, I present the Top 10 pieces of happy economic... American Enterprise Institute http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946640/posts#comment Tue, 1 Jan 2008 06:55:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1943135/posts Consumers put aside worries about slumping home sales and soaring gasoline prices and headed to the malls last month, pushing spending up by the largest amount in 3½ years. The better-than-expected surge lessened fears of an imminent recession. The Commerce Department reported yesterday that consumer spending shot up 1.1 percent last month, nearly triple October's gain. It was the biggest one-month jump since a 1.2 percent rise in May 2004 and was significantly higher than the 0.7 percent gain analysts had expected. Incomes were also up last month, but the 0.4 percent increase was far below the rise in spending.... Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1943135/posts#comment Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:45:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942765/posts WASHINGTON (AP) -- Consumers put aside worries about slumping home sales and soaring gasoline prices and headed to the malls in November, pushing spending up by the largest amount in 3 1/2 years. The Commerce Department reported Friday that consumer spending surged by 1.1 percent last month, nearly triple the October gain. The gain reflected various promotional efforts by retailers such as heavy discounting and longer store hours at the start of the holiday shopping season.... http://biz.yahoo.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942765/posts#comment Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:44:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942771/posts Stocks opened higher Friday following a better-than-expected rise in profits at Research in Motion Ltd. and on word that Merrill Lynch might have lined up a big cash infusion from a Singapore fund. Research in Motion said late Thursday its fiscal third-quarter profit more than doubled on strong demand for its BlackBerry smart phones. The results gave Wall Street hope that the technology sector has further to climb and that consumers and businesses are still spending. Biz.yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942771/posts#comment Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:59:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942349/posts Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today released the following statement on the revised third quarter real gross domestic product (GDP) report, which showed that the American economy grew at 4.9 percent in the third quarter of 2007, the highest rate of GDP growth in four years: “In the face of real challenges, our resilient economy has now experienced six years of uninterrupted growth. As the holiday shopping season begins, I am pleased with today’s strong GDP report, coupled with the 1.68 million jobs added over the past year and low unemployment. President Bush’s pro-growth policies are moving our economy forward.... http://www.commerce.gov http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942349/posts#comment Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:24:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1936091/posts Employers Boost Payrolls by 94,000; Jobless Rate Holds Steady at 4.7 Percent WASHINGTON (AP) -- Employers added a solid 94,000 jobs to their payrolls in November, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.7 percent and wages grew briskly, encouraging signs the nation's employment climate is holding up in the face of turbulence in the housing and credit markets. The fresh snapshot of the labor market, released by the Labor Department on Friday, showed that hiring was brisk in education and health services, retail, professional services, the government and elsewhere. That helped to offset job losses in construction, manufacturing and financial... Yahoo! Finance http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1936091/posts#comment Fri, 7 Dec 2007 14:12:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1934726/posts Business Leaders Feel Pretty Good About Economy's Prospects Despite Housing, Credit Woes WASHINGTON (AP) -- The country's top corporate executives foresee pretty good business prospects even as the economy gets squeezed by a housing collapse, a credit crunch, Wall Street turmoil and high energy prices. A survey by the Business Roundtable, released Tuesday, showed that most executives expect sales, capital investment and hiring to remain at current levels or even improve in the coming months. While the economy's problems have caused consumer confidence to tank, the survey's results suggest that corporate executives' assessment is that the business climate remains generally... AP/YeeHee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1934726/posts#comment Tue, 4 Dec 2007 23:01:49 GMT