February 2010 Economic News Summary

Economic News Summary: The Slow Motion Recovery
By: David Weatherholt, MBA

February, 2010

Economic News Summary 2010
The $13.2 trillion U.S. economy caught a cold and was down-and-out for a bit as marked by the sharp drop in GDP during the 3rd quarter of 2008. This was the most serious economic downturn since the 1930's.

However, since the 1930's our economy has pushed steadily upward marked by only shallow declines, as the growing economy seemed to almost stop simply to catch its breath, before continuing its upward climb. This recession was severe and is turning out to be quite long, which makes the recovery seem like it is in "s l o w ...m o t i o n." We have turned a corner, and the largest, most resilient economy in the world is now refreshed, healthy and ready to move to greater heights.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
February 25, 2010

Gross domestic product is the standard for measuring economic health. Over the past 63 years, since 1947, the U.S. economy has grown from $1.8 trillion to $13.2 trillion, or a percent change of over 630%.

Full title: 1) Gross domestic product: Real Gross Domestic Product, Chained Dollars: Billions of chained 2005 dollars; Seasonally adjusted at annual rates (quarterly). 2) Quarterly Growth in real GDP at annual rates, as a percentage change.

Consumer Price Index-Urban (CPI-U)
February 25, 2010

Consumer prices indicates the level of inflation. To limit the damage to the economy, the Federal Reserve pumped trillions of dollars into the economy. If not handled properly, all of those extra dollars can create inflation. In the coming months, the Federal Reserve will take steps to mitigate inflation. Currently inflation is at a 2% annual rate, which is below the average of 2.6% over the past 10 years.

Full Title: All Urban Consumers - (CPI-U): U.S. city average: All items: 1982-84=100

Personal Income
February 25, 2010

Personal income in the U.S. approached a 63-year low, see chart below. The negative trend has been reversed, returning to a positive annualized rate of 4%. Consumers are not in a position to lead economic recovery.

Full Title: Personal income: Personal Income and Its Disposition: Billions of dollars; Seasonally adjusted at annual rates (quarterly)

Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE)
February 25, 2010

Personal consumption expenditures have regained the positive ground lost during this recession. Recovering from a -3.5% annual decline to a positive 2% annual increase. We have extended this chart back to 1947 for better context.

Full Title: 1) Personal consumption expenditures: Real Personal Consumption Expenditures by Major Type of Product, Chained Dollars: Billions of chained 2005 dollars; Seasonally adjusted at annual rates (quarterly. 2) Personal consumption expenditures: Percent Change From Preceding Period in Real Personal Consumption Expenditures by Major Type of Product: Percent; Seasonally adjusted at annual rates (quarterly)

Civilian Unemployment Rate
February 25, 2010

This widely published index went down in January to 9.7% from December's rate of 10%. Normally a downward revision is good if the reason for the drop is caused by employers hiring more workers. This drop seems like it was caused by the unemployed losing benefits and dropping out of work force. We need to wait and see on this part of the
"s l o w ...m o t i o n" recovery.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI)
February 25, 2010

The price of West Texas Crude dropped to $75.10. The historical trading range for crude has been in the $55 to $75 per barrel range, except for the run-up in 2008. The more stable trading range is good for the economy and oil companies.

Full Title: Price of West Texas Intermediate Crude; Monthly NSA, Dollars Per Barrel

Industrial Production (IP)
February 25, 2010

Industrial production increased to 101.1 in January. This is an annual percentage change of 11.81%-- a huge change over the -23.41% from the previous year. When looking at the percentage change, red in chart below, we can see the dramatic change in industrial production and the one indicator not in "slow motion."

Full Title: Industrial Production Index: Index 2002=100: SA

Let me know if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.
Write David W. Weatherholt at david@bnewsviews.com

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