<p>The big problem is in construction where we are down 3 million jobs. If that is turned around that will be when things start to get better. The question is can the private sector turn that problem around or will the government be the only solution in the short term?</p>
<p>I do not see a solution to housing in the near term:</p>
<p>[Technically, these are households with at least one additional adult who is not in school and not the householder’s spouse or partner. This year, about 30% of adults, 69.2 million people, are living in doubled-up households, compared with 27.7%, or 61.7 million, in 2007, according to a September report on income, poverty and health insurance from the Census Bureau.]</p>
<p>[Tight</a> Budgets Are Forcing More People to Share Living Space - WSJ.com](<a href=“Tight Budgets Are Forcing More People to Share Living Space - WSJ”>Tight Budgets Are Forcing More People to Share Living Space - WSJ)</p>
<p>I was quite confused about crude vs gasoline prices in the last two months. Crude is going up while gasoline is going down. Some local stations are under $3.10 in my area. Then I read that the US is almost a net fuel exporter.</p>
<p>[U.S. exports of gasoline, diesel and other oil-based fuels are soaring, putting the nation on track to be a net exporter of petroleum products in 2011 for the first time in 62 years.</p>
<p>A combination of booming demand from emerging markets and faltering domestic activity means the U.S. is exporting more fuel than it imports, upending the historical norm.]</p>
<p>[U.S</a>. Nears Milestone: Net Fuel Exporter - WSJ.com](<a href=“U.S. Nears Milestone: Net Fuel Exporter - WSJ”>U.S. Nears Milestone: Net Fuel Exporter - WSJ)</p>
<p>Falling domestic demand means falling gasoline prices while we export more and more fuel to growing countries. This certainly explains increasing demand for workers in the energy sector.</p>
<p>From my own personal perspective, we’re completely swamped with work. I see new people here and there so I assume that we’re hiring though not in my local groups. It seems to me that there are lots of opportunities to start up companies too - if you have a good idea and the talent to implement it. This thread has already given me an idea for a project.</p>
<p>In my southern state, state jobs were eliminated in '08-09 and haven’t been refilled. Lots of teachers were let go and not rehired. No raises since '08 but a couple of furloughs and the state health insurance plan premiums have increased. So state employees are making less than they were in '07 and this has long term impacts on our local economy imho.</p>
<p>Since '08 in my state, in the very popular area close to the main university, it is not clear to me any houses in the above $800,000 price range have sold. Some have gone to auction. I am watching a 1.6 million $ home being painted & updated and am interested to see what happens when they put it back on the market. People are not really dropping prices on million dollar homes but eventually something has to happen with these properties. What? There have now been at least four selling seasons and they haven’t moved.</p>
<p>There are a whole lot of empty spaces in the strip malls.</p>
<p>Huge boost for Western WA: Boeing and machinists agreed on contract terms to build 737MAX here, and $145M or so bonus money will be pouring into the local economy. You should have seen Bob Bridge almost doing a happy dance during his TV interview - his Toyota dealerships are posed to grab a good share of that bonus money.</p>
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<p>[Business</a> & Technology | Boeing, Machinists reach sweeping agreement | Seattle Times Newspaper](<a href=“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016895323_boeingmax01.html]Business”>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016895323_boeingmax01.html)</p>
<p>I hope this means Merry Christmas for the EK’s household.</p>
<p>“If you listen to Bloomberg radio enough …”</p>
<p>Last night a CNBC Commentator said flat out that the economy is doing MUCH better. When asked why so many people thought the economy was still a problem, he blamed negative reporting by the media. Hmmm.</p>
<p>The Commentator himself makes, what $800k a year?</p>
<p>Financial news services make money on ads when the market is doing well which is why they mostly try to talk it up. We don’t have cable tv so I don’t watch any of those shows. I do pay for good advice from other sources though.</p>
<p>^^ mini -
Yeah. My take was that one-percenters now realize that their “Lower our taxes and we’ll hire workers (even though we’re already flush with cash)” campaign has failed to gain traction … and is being replaced with “Hey the economy’s fine … there’s no need for additional government intervention (which might cost us some money downstream).” </p>
<p>This is strictly an opinion, with no facts offered in support.</p>
<p>Great news recaps, all. Definitely some interesting trends here.
The coordinated massive liquidity injection is also at work here for the moment, too. What is the source of the funding ST CB/gov loans, which will have to be repaid?</p>
<p>Ed Hyman of ISI Group (research house) is know for graphing lots of fascinating macro and micro things- he has been doing it since the 70’s.
I do not pay for or have access to his service these days, but wish I did!</p>
<p>I hope this means Merry Christmas for the EK’s household.
My Scrooge of an H is going to vote no, even though after the last strike they got a poorer deal than they were originally offered. However, I do think he sees the points of keeping jobs in the area, even if Boeing is now on an upward cycle and could offer more.
I think he listens to talk radio too much- yes the CEOs make too much, but everyone has to pay a lot for health ins .</p>
<p>Those darn 1 percenters! It’s all their fault. No question about it.</p>
<p>Now, if we could just finally define who is or is not a 1 percenter . . . then we’d know just who to blame and we would all feel much better.</p>
<p>Regarding the boeing thing – why didn’t the business go to . . . South Carolina? Was it South Carolina? I didn’t really understand why the government could dictate to Boeing what state they are allowed to locate a plant. Seattle’s gain is South Carolona’s loss? Actually, higher wages and bennies will mean costlier planes will mean more stress on American and other airlines . . . and more expensive air travel for consumers and for businesses who have employees who must travel.</p>
<p>A lot of the sales are to international carriers.</p>
<p>Sewhappy, these planes are new design. The sales are already confirmed, and the pricing had been agreed upon long time ago. This is how this type of business operates: first, you sell the product, then you build it.</p>
<p>Re Boeing- Seattle workers are able to do the job, cost overruns occur when factories with lesser skilled workers were getting the work.
Experience counts in many things & saves money & time in the long run.</p>
<p>I live in the San Jose CA area. From my very localized viewpoint, things are getting better. High tech hiring is on the upswing and there are plenty of people changing jobs. My company (which manufactures networking gear) is hiring both for planned growth and to fill losses from attrition. I have heard from several contacts that their companies are also hiring. So if you are a technology worker, things are looking up.</p>
<p>In contrast, I volunteer occasionally at the local food bank and see the flip side of the economy. There are families coming in who are totally down on their luck. Many are working poor who have made the difficult decision to pay the rent rather than buy groceries. It really pains me to see this.</p>
<p>Even in a better economy like San Jose, I do worry about the under-trained/under-educated/OUT OF DATE because OUT OF WORK SO LONG people getting work from here.
Things change so fast; it is hard to keep up even when one IS employed…
Those who are out of work cannot afford to pay for their own re-training and upgrading in many cases, either.</p>
<p>Things change so fast; it is hard to keep up even when one IS employed…
Those who are out of work cannot afford to pay for their own re-training and upgrading in many cases, either</p>
<p>We need to have Americorps expanded for not just college age people, but folks our age.
[Top</a> 10 New Deal Programs](<a href=“http://americanhistory.about.com/od/greatdepression/tp/new_deal_programs.htm]Top”>Top 10 New Deal Programs of the 1930s)</p>
<p>Economy will not get better until our gov. is heavily involved in it. Proven time and again thruout the history in every country. Centrally run business does not function effectively.</p>
<p>“Now, if we could just finally define who is or is not a 1-percenter …”</p>
<p>Actually a local newspaper editor did that recently. She said 1-percenters are those who can afford to buy a lobbyist and get favorable legislation passed. (You know, like the Hedge Fund managers who convinced Congress to let them pay long-term capital gains rates on short-term trading profits.) What? You can’t afford $3 Million for a lobbyist? Guess you’re not a 1-percenter.</p>
<p>NewHope,</p>
<p>Of course the 1 percenter in your local columnists scenario is the hedge fund manager. How about the congressman? Is s/he a 1 percenter? Ever heard of crony capitalism?</p>
<p>Personally, witch hunts give me migraines. They are America at its worst. Those railing against the 1 percent turn me off. I don’t think we get to higher ground trying to drive a stake through the heart of the town monster.</p>
<p>But if I had to lay blame I would start with the government, not with the hedge fund managers. Those folks are just out to make money. The congress is suppose to be looking out for Americans and they have been very assiduously pursuing deals that enrich themselves. Corzine anyone?</p>