Not too long ago, the government was telling us all about the job growth we are experiencing. Not the AP Economics writer tells us a different story. Here, with attribution, is an excerpt from her news story:

Jobless Rate Hits 5 Percent, 2-Year High
By JEANNINE AVERSA (AP Economics Writer)
From Associated Press
January 04, 2008 3:32 PM EST
WASHINGTON - Wary employers clamped down on hiring and pushed the unemployment rate to a two-year high of 5 percent in December, an ominous sign that the economy may slide into recession. President Bush explored a rescue package, including a tax cut, with his economic advisers.

Gripped by uncertainty, government and private employers last month added the fewest new jobs to their payrolls in more than four years. In fact, employment at private companies alone actually declined. The Labor Department's report, released Friday, provided evidence of an economy greatly strained by a housing slump and a credit crunch.

end of excerpt---

I post this story as an example of why most of us are confused about our state of the economy. One day we are told one thing and the next we are told another. And the hell of it is both stories are 180 degrees out of synch. No wonder we don't know what to believe.

I think the lesson is forget the media and government baloney and stick to core values. Saving money is never bad idea. Not incurring debt on wasting assets and not needed items is always a good idea and putting something away for a rainy day is one heck of a great idea.

You really can't go too wrong if you remember you are your responsibility and no one else's so act accordingly.

Unfortunately, you can never get the complete story on any of these mainly because each side has its own agenda which permeates reporting and presumed statements of fact.

I agree with the thoughts above, and I recently saw a TV news item saying that there wasn't the recent job growth in the US that had been anticipated.

That was on a Canadian station, by the way.