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29 Sep 2011 10:50

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Biz: Here’s another good-sounding economic story … with a catch

  • 1.3% the increase in U.S. gross domestic product in the second quarter, based on updated final numbers
  • 0.3% the improvement in that number from the initial estimates from the April-to-June quarter source
  • » Such evocative language in the source story: But before you get too excited about those three-tenths of one percent, just keep in mind the text that AFP used here: “The better-than-expected figure is unlikely to have a major impact on confidence in the enfeebled US economy, but tints the backdrop in a slight less gloomy hue.”
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Jan 2011 14:20

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World: This week’s Egyptian protests, by the numbers (thanks Newsflick)

  • Our Tumblr friend Newsflick has been doing some great coverage of the Egyptian protests. And in general. He seriously runs a great site that offers a great view of international events. It’s one of our favorite Tumblr blogs, and a truly unsung hero as far as news coverage goes. We got these numbers directly from him – we take no credit, other than that we’re laying them out a little bit more to fit our style. Anyway, here goes:
  • 1,000+ protesters have been arrested source
  • 870+ have been wounded in Cairo alone, according to various reports source
  • 10+ have died in the wake of the Egyptian protests this week source
  • 17% decline in Egypt’s EGX30 stock index in just two days source
  • » A few more stats (from us): The country sports 17 percent food inflation, which was one of the factors noted in the recent Tunisia uprising. While the country’s GDP growth is respectable, it’s also a severe sign of the country’s inequality. Nearly 40 percent of people – out of a population of 80 million – are poor, and the country’s unemployment is 25 percent. And youth unemployment is incredibly high around the world, especially in Egypt. But even in developed countries, it’s shocking: 40 percent unemployment in Spain. 20 percent unemployment in France. How does this happen? How does our youth culture become so unemployable in these countries? This is a big problem which shows a lack of long-term thinking. (Note: Some numbers just updated)
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Dec 2010 10:17

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Biz: Revised numbers: GDP improves handily, but not fast enough

  • 2.6% third-quarter boost; good, but not good enough source
  • » What is “good enough,” anyway?: We’ll leave this assessment to someone who knows a little more about banking. “Growth really needs to be closer to 4% for a couple of years to bring down the unemployment rate,” said Mark Vitner, senior economist at Wells Fargo. So, in other words, we’re getting there, but this isn’t cooking with gas. This is the pilot light on the oven staying out for an extended period. The economy needs a spark.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Nov 2010 09:12

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Biz: U.S. economy growing, but not fast enough to spur job growth

  • 2.5% the amount the U.S. economy grew in the third quarter (that’s pretty good, actually)
  • 1.7% the amount the economy grew in the prior quarter (we improved; that’s even better!)
  • 3.5% the rate of growth that’s economists say we need to cut the unemployment rate (that’s bad) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Aug 2010 21:31

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Biz: It’s official: China’s economy is bigger than Japan’s, way behind U.S.

  • $1.28B the GDP of China’s newly 2nd-place economy in the second quarter of 2010
  • $1.22B the GDP of Japan’s economy in 2nd quarter 2010, which fell behind China for the first time
  • $14B the GDP of the U.S. economy throughout 2009, which is way out in front source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

30 Jul 2010 12:25

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Biz, U.S.: GDP crawl: The U.S. economy is growing, but at a very slow rate

  • 2.4% the increase in the GDP in the second quarter, slower than anticipated
  • 3.7% the increase in the GDP after the first quarter, higher than first reported source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Jun 2010 22:05

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Biz, U.S.: Real reason we should fear 2012: Our growing national debt

  • $13 trillion in total debt; it could outpace GDP by 2012 source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

30 Apr 2010 09:24

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Biz: Consumers driving gross domestic product’s improvement

  • 3.2% the increase in gross domestic product this quarter – good, but smaller than expected
  • 2.55% of that growth came from
    consumer spending – the largest boost since 2006 source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Jan 2010 22:09

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World: China’s growing faster than its censorship walls can go up

  • 10.7% growth in its GDP in 4Q ’09 alone source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Oct 2009 09:57

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Biz: That’s promising: The economy’s starting to grow again

  • 3.5% increase in 3Q gross domestic product; hooray! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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