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U.S. recovery leaving Europe, Japan behind

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Only problem is that it is a fake recovery. Debt continues to grow. Even the sequestration won't slow it down much. The stock market rise is due to money printing not a recovery. It is just a different form of inflation.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

@Mark Bradley, you're right, the Fed's QE or (printing money) policies to simulate the economy is a bit dubious and dangerous.

But hey at least your 401k, housing prices, and employment in the private sector is going up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PTUY16CkS-k <--awesome video about the QE

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Recovery =Printing business, Money printing and Press printing. Will last for few months and then back to normal, No, below normal.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

So far it has been in fact a real recovery from the year 2008 low point here in the USA, but the main problem is the quality and pay levels of the new jobs created.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Yup....just a temporary illusion. Still deep in recession and frighteningly high inflation is likely.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Fake numbers to paint a falsely-rosy picture to dupe the blissfully ignorant. The falling employment participation numbers show the real status.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Those unemployment numbers are a farce. Once someone's unemployment benefits run out that person is taken off the unemployed list and no longer counted. The real figures are more like 14%.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

The unemployment numbers have been "partially fake" for a long time, but they still can be used as a guide to help judge the strength of the economy, although they are very far from perfect of course

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Bernanke has been and still is doing the right thing. Because there are no easy answers. But there IS some lousy advice that fortunately hasn't been followed and because of rigid ideology just won't disappear, like cutting your way to prosperity, something that has never worked.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Two term Republican presidency. Economic disaster. Two term Democratic presidency. Economic recovery.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Leaving Japan behind? We never had an unemployment near 9%, just 4.6%, and even with the phony numbers, still doesn't approach 9%. What a bunch of nationalistic boasting. Also, we did not cause the breakdown and destruction of world capitalism as we know it.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

warnerbroMar. 09, 2013 - 01:18PM JST

Two term Republican presidency. Economic disaster. Two term Democratic presidency. Economic recovery.

Well said and no kidding here, warnerbro..

Historically that's how it has been. The Republican presidency creates economic chaos, and the Democratic presidency is to clean it up. It is very, very true.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

All on Obama's watch.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

This article is a load of rubbish. Things are terrible here in the US...only the banks who refuse to lend the money we gave them and the top execs are doing well, not the actual country. And Japan is no longer stagnant, you need to catch up on your news news writers. Sorry but dont headline things like that when they just arent true. the US is in terrible shape largely because of the idiot in the White house and the democrats trying to take over the country for their liberal radical causes.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

What is not said in the article is that unemployment falls after people have exhausted their unemployment benefits and are no longer looking for work. The unemployment figures are very misleading. The stock market goes up a day and it is called a recovery while the only reason the stocks went up is because of the so called cut in spending which is jsut a decrease in the increase in spending. The entire article is media hype and garbage with no real facts only smoke and mirrors.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@global

The Republican presidency creates economic chaos, and the Democratic presidency is to clean it up. It is very, very true.

So then if there were true, why are the Dems in particular Obama are making the economy worse? Black unemployment went down to 13% from 14.7% and you think that's a huge achievement??? Seems like Blacks are really enjoying how the Dems are cleaning everything up.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Obama are making the economy worse

Obama is doing just fine. The employment released yesterday is still going down. The equidy market and housing market are recovering. It is due to too much liquidity (bubble). Many 401k investors got all the money back theyhad lost in 2008. People are more optimistic for the future. People are spending. I know what others will say. Many gave up looking for jobs, right? Well, without Obama we could have gone to 20% unemployment like Spain. Unemployment is now at 7.7% and wage is getting higher.This is critical fact. The Fed will tighten the liquidity once the unemployment goes down to 6.5%.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Seems like Blacks are really enjoying how the Dems are cleaning everything up.

bass, I have just noticed what you have said. What are you trying to say here? Cleaning whoat?

I am not a Black but I fought for the Civil Rights when I was a college student. I marched along with many others in Alabama in the 60s against Gov Wallace. I believe in Freedom, Equality and Justice for ALL. just in case you do not know what I have done in the past for righ cause in humanity. Enough said.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Where is all of our money going???!!! These people continue to talk in terms most people don't understand.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

"All on Obama's watch"

Including the $16.5 trillion debt.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

But I keep forgetting the debt is not Obama's fault.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

"Where is all of our money going???!!!"

Most of it's going down the drain/pissed away.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Jason SantanaMar. 09, 2013 - 07:21PM JST

Where is all of our money going???!!!

Money is to buy the value, and the value has evaporated.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Serrano you are so wrong, please do some fact finding and stop believing all of what the media tells you. The bulk of the debt belongs to Obama. The one trillion dollar stimulus that was basically given to his CEO buddies at failing companies for supporting him. Some went to the prisoners who voted for him and some to the union bosses who put money into his campaign. The American people saw none of the stimulus money.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Kent - Sorry, I forgot to put "lol" after "I keep forgetting the debt is not Obama's fault."

Of course he's partly responsible for some of the debt even before he became president, as he was a senator who voted for money-wasting federal programs.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

With the republican extremists still in control of the House of Representatives, it is a miracle the economy has recovered as much as it has! Without the tea party extremists blocking almost everything President Obama wants to do, the recovery would have been even stronger.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

This is a false recovery. We are in a fiscal mess. Obama has flushed TRILLIONS down the drain. Look at the facts!

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Kent Mcgraw: What is not said in the article is that unemployment falls after people have exhausted their unemployment benefits and are no longer looking for work.

That's always been the case with job reports. The only new thing is that some people have made a habit out of saying it since Obama has been in office. Makes them sound clever, like they know something others don't. And it can be used to discredit a jobs report every single time regardless of what they numbers are. Overall, we should be happy with the number of new construction jobs which is a big indicator.

Kent Mcgraw: The bulk of the debt belongs to Obama. The one trillion dollar stimulus that was basically given to his CEO buddies at failing companies for supporting him. Some went to the prisoners who voted for him and some to the union bosses who put money into his campaign.

The second round of stimulus was mostly hashed out before Obama took office. If you think it's really that bad then blame Bush.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@global

Obama is doing just fine. The employment released yesterday is still going down.

The economy seems good, because they failed to calculate that many people have given up looking for work, you failed to recognize that.

The equidy market and housing market are recovering.

Yes, to a point that is true, but that is good news for people that can afford to buy a house, which sadly many people cannot and why, because they don't have a job.

It is due to too much liquidity (bubble). Many 401k investors got all the money back theyhad lost in 2008.

That's not true. A lot of people lost big on their 401k, many watched how their money got smaller and smaller, my own aunt is also a victim of this.

People are more optimistic for the future. People are spending.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2012/12/unemployment-rate-falls-to-77-per-cent-but-where-are-all-the-other-workers.html

I know what others will say. Many gave up looking for jobs, right?

Yes, because they did. If you want to believe in something else, by all means, but personally, I would rather put my money on facts rather than speculated opinions.

Well, without Obama we could have gone to 20% unemployment like Spain. Unemployment is now at 7.7% and wage is getting higher.This is critical fact. The Fed will tighten the liquidity once the unemployment goes down to 6.5%.

So, having a $17T debt is in your opinion acceptable then? The Feds can't and won't do anything, they can't even balance the budget! The wage is getting higher? Then you will see more layoffs as many companies can't afford it or they will pass these hikes and extra cost to the customers.

You can believe the pundits on msnbc if you want to. To them, the economy is at its best since the 50's. people like Sharpton think that the US is swimming in cash ( that's just borrowed from China and we just keep on printing these bills).

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@global

I am not a Black but I fought for the Civil Rights when I was a college student. I marched along with many others in Alabama in the 60s against Gov Wallace. I believe in Freedom, Equality and Justice for ALL. just in case you do not know what I have done in the past for righ cause in humanity. Enough said.

What does fighting for civil rights have anything to do with this WH and the lack of transparency and deception that, if I recall, Obama said, his admin will be the most open and honest and transparent WH in recent memory and what did we get? The same old BS as the last and the last before that and so on and so on.... The Black unemployment is the highest of any ethnic group in the states 97% of them voted for Obama and this is what they get?? And yet, they still support him, that absolutely boggles my mind.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Why are you trying to blame President Obama for the relatively high African-American unemployment rate? If you will recall, it was the overwhelmingly European-American republican House of Representatives who did nothing about job creation, because their #1 goal was not allowing Mr. Obama a second term! So it was do anything to keep him out of office, even if it did in fact hurt the country and the economy. Fortunately they failed in their "mission", but the damage was done and is still being done by them as I write... Considering how many people hate President Obama, especially in the deep south and parts of the Midwest, this has been an amazing recovery so far, and frankly I myseld did not expect things to go this well by this point in time.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

There is no recovery. The government prints money and gives it to banks to buy stocks. It's that simple.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@yoga

Why are you trying to blame President Obama for the relatively high African-American unemployment rate?

Because he (Obama) said, he wanted rich people to pay more, spread the wealth and help uplift the lower income people. Many blacks and Latinos in the Urban cities earn less than $30,000 a year, he practically destroyed the private work sector, so the only thing left are government jobs and many of them are laying people off. So as the commander in chief, the buck stops with him.

If you will recall, it was the overwhelmingly European-American republican House of Representatives who did nothing about job creation, because their #1 goal was not allowing Mr. Obama a second term!

And why should they? They don't agree with this president on most issues, they are Republicans, they are conservatives, they do not share the same social or economical values and viewpoints of the opposing party. They did put forth a plan and tried to reign in Obama's out of control spending and not to over tax the private sector that's needs to be able to hire people, pay people, they pay taxes, you will have growth, something that liberals never understand.

So it was do anything to keep him out of office, even if it did in fact hurt the country and the economy.

Your president is already doing a fine job at that Or do you want to say that the last 4 years were the best years we had in over 20 years????

Fortunately they failed in their "mission", but the damage was done and is still being done by them as I write... Considering how many people hate President Obama, especially in the deep south and parts of the Midwest,

Hmmm, printing money we don't have and borrowing money from China that we can't pay back doesn't bother you in the slightest? Don't start with the color liberal rant! Whites overwhelmingly got Obama in the WH in his first term, so don't need to go there, the black and latino vote alone could never have gotten Obama elected.

this has been an amazing recovery so far, and frankly I myseld did not expect things to go this well by this point in time.

Yes, for government employees, NOT the private sector and because of the cuts a lot of people will be laid off this month, so that will greatly change the dynamic of everything. I too, never expected our country to have become a giant welfare nanny state.

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/baby-boomers-and-the-shrinking-work-force/

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

China and Japan each have about $1.1 trillion in US debt. The Federal Reserve owns about $1.6 trillion. That means that US debt is losing its reputation as a risk-free investment.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

bass4funk: Because he (Obama) said, he wanted rich people to pay more, spread the wealth and help uplift the lower income people.

New revenue is needed so the tax cuts expired (just as they were designed to do) for a small percentage of the population, who, in case you haven't noticed, are doing quite well during the recession, increasing their control on all American wealth. "Income redistribution" is a scare phrase by Republicans.

Many blacks and Latinos in the Urban cities earn less than $30,000 a year, he practically destroyed the private work sector

He practically destroyed the private work sector? Where did you get that from? Without the loss of PUBLIC jobs the job numbers would be even better.

[Republicans] did put forth a plan and tried to reign in Obama's out of control spending and not to over tax the private sector that's needs to be able to hire people, pay people, they pay taxes, you will have growth, something that liberals never understand.

Paul Ryan's plan? That's been exposed as horseshit. And what is "out of control" spending, exactly? The deficit is from a lack of revenues. And what new taxes are there on the private sector? Do you still support that outdated concept of "trickle down"?

I too, never expected our country to have become a giant welfare nanny state.

No one did, but the social safety nets had to kick in after a collapse in jobs and demand. Which happened on Republican's watch, but I don't hear your usual statements of "owning it." How do you feel about that, by the way? The collapse in the economy on Republican's watch?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@superlib

New revenue is needed so the tax cuts expired (just as they were designed to do) for a small percentage of the population, who, in case you haven't noticed, are doing quite well during the recession, increasing their control on all American wealth. "Income redistribution" is a scare phrase by Republicans.

Of course it is, why do I have to share my money, money that I made to every Tom, Dick and Harry? I pay more than my fair share and as a result of your Presidents tax cuts, I might have to let some of my staff go. That would be counter productive. I get so tired of this with liberals, I have never, ever seen a liberal light more up in the face when they talk about taxing the country into oblivion.

He practically destroyed the private work sector? Where did you get that from? Without the loss of PUBLIC jobs the job numbers would be even better.

I'm an example of it! I have 27 staff workers, but I simply cannot afford to buy Obama's crappy healthcare and pay my workers well. So yes, because of this guy, he's killing the private sector.

[Republicans] did put forth a plan and tried to reign in Obama's out of control spending and not to over tax the private sector that's needs to be able to hire people, pay people, they pay taxes, you will have growth, something that liberals never understand.

Exactly! Not to punish us, because we're job creators.

Paul Ryan's plan? That's been exposed as horseshit.

Well, I expect that from a liberal, so how are we doing now? You liberals never address how were going to pay back the $17T debt that we owe.

Obama can only raise more and more taxes because his policies are not working.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123256406

No one did, but the social safety nets had to kick in after a collapse in jobs and demand. Which happened on Republican's watch, but I don't hear your usual statements of "owning it." How do you feel about that, by the way? The collapse in the economy on Republican's watch?

No Republican is disputing that, but now the Dems are in control and doing a worse job and the ever climbing deficit, now you want to believe that Dems have no problem and never were responsible for the any of this. I keep forgetting, liberals believe that they are Not accountable for any of this.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

bass4funk: Of course it is, why do I have to share my money, money that I made to every Tom, Dick and Harry?

A meaningless, emotive statement from AM radio.

I pay more than my fair share and as a result of your Presidents tax cuts, I might have to let some of my staff go. That would be counter productive. I get so tired of this with liberals. I simply cannot afford to buy Obama's crappy healthcare and pay my workers well. So yes, because of this guy, he's killing the private sector.

Then lay off people. Other companies will be able to absorb them, the ones that are competitive enough. How American is that?

I have never, ever seen a liberal light more up in the face when they talk about taxing the country into oblivion.

OK.

You liberals never address how were going to pay back the $17T debt that we owe.

Through a mixture of cost cutting and increased revenues. What's your plan? Reduce through cost cutting alone, something just about every economist says isn't enough? The trickle down plan works if taxes are 80% and they're dropped to 39%. A 4% difference to 1% of the population is nearly meaningless in terms of purchasing power.

Exactly! Not to punish us, because we're job creators.

Then create jobs. The only thing the "job creators" have done is create meaningless part-time, low cost positions, the exact same kind of jobs you blame Obama for.

No Republican is disputing that, but now the Dems are in control and doing a worse job and the ever climbing deficit, now you want to believe that Dems have no problem and never were responsible for the any of this.

Great. So you agree that one of the greatest collapses in US history was done on Republican's watch, and you must agree that the large deficits were largely created by that mess. You can disagree with how Obama is handling the Republican mess, but that's not the same as creating it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@super

A meaningless, emotive statement from AM radio

Who said anything about AM radio?

Then lay off people. Other companies will be able to absorb them, the ones that are competitive enough. How American is that?

"Then lay off people?" That tells me you are seriously out of touch with reality. My people can't be quickly "absorbed" as you call it, because of a certain market and skills that they have and are in. But I have to lay some of them off probably. You liberals think that jobs just grow on trees like apples, plentiful, astounding!

Through a mixture of cost cutting and increased revenues. What's your plan? Reduce through cost cutting alone, something just about every economist says isn't enough?

That depends on which economist we are talking about? Apparently the ones that are advising Obama clearly are giving him the wrong advice and don't know what they're doing.

The trickle down plan works if taxes are 80% and they're dropped to 39%. A 4% difference to 1% of the population is nearly meaningless in terms of purchasing power

Lol

Then create jobs. The only thing the "job creators" have done is create meaningless part-time, low cost positions, the exact same kind of jobs you blame Obama for.

Well, that's what we are trying to do, but as long as your president taxes us into oblivion, low paying, part time ( if that) are all that one can expect. Counting the days until 2016!

Great. So you agree that one of the greatest collapses in US history was done on Republican's watch, and you must agree that the large deficits were largely created by that mess. You can disagree with how Obama is handling the Republican mess, but that's not the same as creating it.

Yes, and I also degree that Obama has stepped it up a heavy notch and is one of the biggest spenders in US history, with Bush coming in second, I will most definitely admit that. I do agree that Obama is single-handelty bankrupting this country, not only partisan and hostile to Republicans, but often doesn't listen to his fellow Dems, unlike anything we ever had in this country. I'm just wondering once he leaves office if there will be anybody to clean his mess. Only time will tell.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The money owed to Medicare and Social Security recipients is around $203 TRILLION. This is the main reason why Bernanke is firing up the printing presses. My SSDI check might buy half a pack of gum by the time this is over.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Any economy that is so dependent on government spending is basically an economy made out of smoke and mirrors.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

bass4funk: That depends on which economist we are talking about?

Not really. A vast majority of economists surveyed agree that the best way to reduce the deficit is through cuts and revenue. Little zingers and tidbits of information in a vacuum might sell a lot of Rush Limbaugh books but other than that it's just a waste of everyone's time.

My people can't be quickly "absorbed" as you call it, because of a certain market and skills that they have and are in.

So do you like your people? Respect them? Are they hard workers? Well the bad news is that when you lay them off your party will call them "the takers" and explain to everyone that they're just part of a socialist society living off of handouts. Personally, I can't wait to support those deadbeats with my taxes.

But I have to lay some of them off probably.

Why don't you go ahead and lay out the numbers you're crunching for all to see. Because the strangest thing happened when some owners, like the president of Papa Johns, made the same case then had to backtrack. It was strange, like all they were doing was some kind of political scare tactic that they wanted others to repeat.

as long as your president taxes us into oblivion

Who is "us" and what is "oblivion"?

Yes, and I also degree that Obama has stepped it up a heavy notch and is one of the biggest spenders in US history, with Bush coming in second, I will most definitely admit that

You're living in the bubble. You talk as if the recession was meaningless and we have all of these problems because the socialist has a blank check. You should know that the deficits are caused by a massive drop in revenue, something started by Bush. So chalking it up as a spending issue from the Kenyan is silly despite how many times you've heard it on the radio. Obama is also still paying for Bush's wars and interest on the debt that he racked up. But of course that's also part of Obama's spending problem.

Finally, just about everyone agrees that the uncertainty about the future (debt ceiling, gov't shutdowns, fiscal cliffs) are the biggest driving force behind the "job creators" not hiring people. And that is a Republican driven issue, especially with your Tea Party, whom are now attacking other Republicans. So while you shift blame for "spending" and hold everyone hostage by your ideology you're making things worse, not better. But that's probably Obama's fault, too.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Overall, we should be happy with the number of new construction jobs which is a big indicator.

What a false indicator as there are no new construction jobs. Union jobs are down by a great margin and jobs continue to go overseas. Wake up superlib. you have to hold on to those things Obama says and those things that are false. personally I think most people here have drank too much kool-aid.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I think it is funny how many people who do not live in America and have never been to America can think they have the right idea about America and the mess Obama has made.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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