U.S. economy surges ahead

Is this why 158 million Americans are on welfare?

A surge in U.S. economic growth lifted stocks Tuesday to record highs and showed that the United States is putting distance between itself and struggling economies around the world.

Awesome. Glad I left Japan when I did and got my company established here to benefit from the growth. Doesn't hurt at all, either, that the dollar is at near-record highs.

Cue Republicans coming up with reasons why this article is lies, and that Obama is a dictator, in three, two, one.....

Good times are here again?

@jeff198527: You are correct, sadly. According to the most recent statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau,109,631,000 Americans living in households received means-tested federal assistance. That is equal to 35.4 percent of the 309,467,000 people living in the United States in the last quarter of 2012. Adding those who were receiving non-means-tested benefits, including Social Security, Medicare, unemployment and veterans benefits, the total of those receiving federal benefits was 153,323,000 or 49.5 percent of the total population. Even if the 3,297,000 receiving veterans are subtracted, that leaves 150,026,000 in households receiving benefits or 48.5 percent of the population.

when you just finished printing $5trillion+ out of thin air backed by nothing, and pumping that into the economy. there arnt many economies that wouldnt eventually see growth out of that.

http://muckrack.com/link/om93b/americans-are-more-positive-about-the-economy-than-theyve-been-in-seven-years-poll-finds

Economic conditions are very/somewhat good - 51%

Economic conditions are very/somewhat poor - 49%

The US population has dropped for seven years straight, our standard of living is dropping, and anyone who believes that we're beating the Asian countries is an absolute fool.

"The US population has dropped for seven years straight, our standard of living is dropping"

Jeff, are you sure ? Then how come according to the Census Bureau the U.S. population in 2000 was about 281,000,000, and now it's about 319,000,000? Well, the Census Bureau could be wrong, and you could be right...

And really, do you have to put such a bad spin on such good news? Merry Christmas!

Government policies are a factor both in macroeconomic performance and subsequent distribution. It is ironic to her conservatives bash the current administration on one side but be silent on the other. A wind of change is coming, though; perhaps the subsequent administration will make more equitable distribution of income a higher priority.

So, Serrano, believing in a lie is fine with you? Why is everything about Japan automatically bad and a lie but everything about America automatically the gospel?

Well, Jeff, I can tell you that the population in my U.S. hometown has increased exponentially over the past couple of decades. Traffic is horrendous with all the new housing and shopping centers that have sprouted...

jeff, post some legit sources for the stats you're posting if you want anyone to take you seriously.

My hometown is booming too, but I'm thinking of long-term problems. Even if the article is true 5% growth isn't going to save Medicare, Social Security or pay down a ballooning national debt. The most likely outcome is austerity combined with currency devaluation, IMHO.

You are correct, sadly. According to the most recent statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau,109,631,000 Americans living in households received means-tested federal assistance. That is equal to 35.4 percent of the 309,467,000 people living in the United States in the last quarter of 2012. Adding those who were receiving non-means-tested benefits, including Social Security, Medicare, unemployment and veterans benefits, the total of those receiving federal benefits was 153,323,000 or 49.5 percent of the total population. Even if the 3,297,000 receiving veterans are subtracted, that leaves 150,026,000 in households receiving benefits or 48.5 percent of the population.

Counting Veteran's benefits and Social Security as welfare is absurd.

Great news, but the pessimists on here never fail to be negative, is there nothing that would bring them cheer ?

Merry Xmas, looks like next year is going to be a ripper.

Great news, but the pessimists on here never fail to be negative, is there nothing that would bring them cheer ?

Look at the labor force participation rate. When that returns to pre-2008 levels, then and only then can you claim that the economy has fully recovered.

"Is this why 158 million Americans are on welfare?"

If that's true, then Obama and Yellen are absolute geniuses. The US GdP per capita is now one of the world's highest, at around $53,000, and growing...with half Americans not even working! In Japan, it's only $38,000 and falling...with full employment. Americans can sit around home and watch TV all day and generate growth, while the Japanese put in 12 hour working days and stagnate. I want to be American.

"anyone who believes that we're beating the Asian countries is an absolute fool."

Then why are millions of ambitious and well-educated Asians lined up to emigrate to America?

Haha nice JeffLee,

"A surge in U.S. economic growth"

This is bad news for Republicans, the party out of the White House.

Obanomics is working for US so in a little while Abenomics will work too.

So, Serrano, believing in a lie is fine with you? Why is everything about Japan automatically bad and a lie but everything about America automatically the gospel?

Because your facts are incorrect.

IIlyas: Tossing in Medicare too is absurd. That was paid for as an insurance benefit.

Just Google "US population drop" or go to usdebtclock.org.

Just because I know the lessons of history and don't have an Americentric worldview doesn't mean I'm wrong.