Friday, February 13, 2009

Government Says Economy Grew in January

WTF?!

Obama's Commerce department just as big a liar as Bush's, 'eh?


"Retail sales in January advance; Continued growth is not expected" by Bloomberg News | February 13, 2009

WASHINGTON - Sales at US retailers unexpectedly halted a six-month slide in January, an advance that may not be sustained after the number of Americans collecting jobless benefits reached the highest on record.

The 1 percent gain in purchases reflected higher gasoline prices and more spending on clothing and food, the Commerce Department said....

You know, the necessities!

An accelerating decline in the job market, along with a record destruction of household wealth with the slide in home values and stocks mean consumers are likely to resume cutbacks. Stocks tumbled on concern that President Obama's stimulus package will be insufficient to assure a swift economic recovery....

A separate Commerce Department report yesterday showed that inventories at US businesses fell more than forecast in December as companies sought to dump their unsold goods....

Tough to dump crap, ain't it?

General Electric Co. said it will lay off 1,200 locomotive workers, US Airways Group Inc. said it would cut its airport staff, and General Motors Corp. said it will axe 10,000 salaried positions.

Related: GM Gives America the Tail Pipe

The retail figures aren't adjusted for inflation, so price increases can influence the data. The average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline last month rose by 10 cents to $1.78 a gallon, according to AAA....

Demand for automobiles has crumbled as banks tighten lending standards and consumers hunker down....

Yeah, right, the poor auto companies.

"One last-minute addition was a $3.2 billion tax break for General Motors Corp. that would allow the ailing auto giant to use current losses to claim refunds for taxes paid when times were good."

--more--"

"Economic doubts drag down oil price" by Associated Press | February 13, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Oil prices slid to a new low for the year yesterday because of growing doubts that the $789 billion stimulus package will reinvigorate the economy and demand for energy....

Gas prices, meanwhile, reached a new high for 2009 and appeared headed back to $2 a gallon as refiners cut back on production....

Ooooooooh!!!!

Related: Oil Companies Benefit From Lower Prices

Okay, here's the drill, Amurka....

1. Pull up to pump

2. Get out of car

3. Drop pants

4. Insert gas pump into ass

5. Pump gas

O.K, get set, ready, go!!!!

Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates, said it is unclear how much oil will benefit from the stimulus package and the Treasury Department's plan unveiled earlier this week to spend more than $1 trillion to help remove banks' soured assets from their books and unclog the credit markets.

WTF?!

Why would BILLION DOLLARS in PROFIT OIL be BENEFITING from the STIMULUS? You tired of that credit lie yet?

While oil prices have been sliding, gas prices have been on the move. Prices at the pump rose 1.2 cents overnight to $1.95 nationwide, the highest level since Thanksgiving, according to auto club AAA and the Oil Price Information Service....

Here we go again!! Everyone knows prices are manipulated.

Oil left 'em low hoping you would shop over Christmas, but when you did not.

Whatever happened to supply and demand? Oil is lower but prices go up?

--more--"

And about that great economy
:

"State personal bankruptcy filings up" by Globe Staff | February 13, 2009

The number of personal bankruptcy filings in Massachusetts rose 41 percent in 2008 as the economy slumped, layoffs increased, and home equity loans became more difficult to obtain, said Warren Group, a Boston firm that tracks such data and publishes Banker & Tradesman....

--more--"

Yeah, I better get down to the mall so the government can claim sales grew next month!

Pffffttt!