A little more information

The two main activities in my life: Helping the hungry in the late hours of the night and helping guitar players sound better one amp at a time.

I always try to remember that in order to do good one has to take action and actually do something.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I have watched the city and Southern California change for well over half a century.

I can be found on facebook at www.facebook.com/mylesr or on twitter at www.twitter.com/myles111us

As of late 2019 the music related links and prints noted on this page which had their links to by GAB (Guitar Amplifier Blueprinting) website are no longer accessible. I grew weary of updating my GAB website and let it go away. You can contact me on Facebook. Saunders Stewart Models continues full operation but we are not accepting new clients without a referral.

Los Angeles Architectural History

Los Angeles Architectural History
1935 Art Deco at some of its finest: No. 168 - Griffith Observatory- (click on the photo for information)

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Here we go again. Unemployment rises UNEXPECTEDLY?

Today there was a story in Reuters by Pedro Nicolaci da Costa.  The story contained those magic phrases and words ... seasonally adjustedUnexpectedly.  

1930


2010

I have watched the unemployment picture since mid 2008.  I have been in the middle of the situation during EVERY season almost three times now.  I don't understand why the situation always seems to be seasonally adjusted.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. jobless claims jumped to their highest level since October while food and energy costs boosted producer prices, pointing to lingering headwinds for an economic recovery that had been showing renewed vigor.

A surge in exports to their highest level in two years helped narrow the trade deficit, however, an encouraging sign.

Despite the more positive outlook for growth in recent weeks, the job market still appeared to be struggling.

The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly to 445,000 from 410,000 in the prior week, the Labor Department said on Thursday. It was the biggest one-week jump in about six months, confounding analyst forecasts for a small drop to 405,000.

U.S. stock index futures added to losses after the jobless claims data, while government debt prices rose.

"The jobless number highlights the patchy recovery we've seen in the job market and reinforces that it will be a slow process bringing down the jobless rate," said Omer Esiner, market analyst at Commonwealth Foreign Exchange in Washington. "The one bright spot was a further decline in the trade deficit, which should contribute positively to fourth-quarter" growth.

A Labor Department official did note the rebound in benefit claims occurred following the holidays, which may have hindered new applications and created a backlog. Without the seasonal adjustment, claims were up by nearly 200,000 to 770,413.

The story goes on to continue to spin the problem, add all sorts of "facts" that are the typical smoke and mirrors tactics which illustrate how our government has firm control over most big media.

The story went on to report:   The U.S. economy has been expanding since the summer of 2009, but the pace of growth has not been sufficient to put a significant dent in the unemployment rate, which remains at an elevated 9.4 percent.

I have lost count of how often I see the same phrase used ...

...filing for first-time unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly ....

Unexpectedly.

It is no comfort that our government, labor department and media have no view of the problem.

Almost a half a million NEW folks filing for unemployment each WEEK yet somehow the government publishes figures of 9.4 or 9.6 percent? The reality is that about 1 in 4 Americans are out of work. The 99ers are no longer counted as are those who just gave up looking for work.

I walk the streets of skid row in Los Angeles many times every week. I see the number of people on the street increase.

Stories like this turn my stomach. The word "unexpectedly" just make me ashamed of our government.

The crowd is growing.  Many EDD offices have added armed security people on the floor.