The U.S. is in a struggle to preserve the prosperous way of life many have come to take for granted. Trying to stay informed by reading the news is likely to make you more confused than ever. Next to an article showing proof the economy is recovering is another showing just the opposite. This makes the task of becoming an informed investor that much more difficult. If you want to see a fewreally confounding headlines, look for the dates colored red!

 

Article Date The Good The Bad The Ugly
May 01, 2013 Record Earnings? That’s Right…Record Fed holds steady on stimulus, worried by fiscal drag Businesses Cut Jobs as Sequester Hits
January 18, 2013 New Foreclosures Near Six-Year Low in December China’s economy posts slowest growth since 1999 Schulz says EU on path to depression
January 2, 2013 Fiscal Cliff Deal: World Markets Celebrate Certainty CEOs Pan Fiscal Cliff Deal, Vow to Continue Debt Fight US fiscal deal doesn’t solve the massive deficit problem
Oct 25, 2012 New-home sales hit 2-year high Europe’s manufacturing gets weaker America’s near poor: 30 million and struggling
Sep 26, 2012 New-home sales steady, but prices jump Analysis: Corporate America sweats as U.S. nears fiscal cliff Violent Protests Hit Greece and Spain
Aug 17, 2012 Consumer sentiment at three-month high in early August U.S. fuel demand hits new low; gasoline prices keep rising State unemployment rates rise in 44 states
Aug 1, 2012 U.S. private sector adds 163,000 jobs in July – ADP Fed says economy may need help, keeps policy on hold U.S. Manufacturing Unexpectedly Shrinks for Second Month
Jult 24, 2012 Goldman Sachs Sees ‘Strong’ U.S. Housing Recovery Starting   Global markets fall as fears grow over Spanish debt crisis
July 18, 2012 Housing starts in June highest in four years   I.M.F. Warns of ‘Sizable Risk’ of Deflation in Euro Zone
July 2, 2012 Ford To Add 12,000 Workers: An All-American Comeback Story Euro zone factories hit hard in June, job cuts rise China factory activity worsens further: HSBC
June 6, 2012 GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks rally on central bank hopes, euro rises    
June 1, 2012     Dismal job market pushes Dow into 275-point plunge
May 31, 2012   Money flies out of Spain, regions pressured PIMCO’s Gross warns of economic “breaking point”
May 29, 2012 Fewer Americans draw on federal relief programs Consumer confidence in the economy plunged in May

Record drop in retail sales adds to Spain’s woes

May 9, 2012 Manufacturing Makes a Resurgence in the Midwest  

Wall Street Slides as European Debt Fears Build

May 8, 2012 Job openings hit 3.74 million, the most since before ’08 crisis  

Greece’s New Leftist Leader Says Bailout Deal Is Dead

May 2, 2012 US manufacturing grows at fastest pace since June Factory Orders Post Biggest Decline in Three Years

In Battle Against Crisis, ECB Running Out of Weapons

April 25, 2012 Housing Declared Bottoming in U.S. After Six-Year Slump Orders for long-lasting goods plunge in March

UK slides back into recession in first double dip since 1970s

April 20, 2012 After 4-month surge, gas prices start falling Fewer US states reported job gains last month

Spanish Bond Yield Above 6% Again; Bunds Rally

April 16, 2012 U.S. Retail Sales Climb More Than Forecast on Jobs: Economy Homebuilder Outlook Plunges, Reversing Spring Rebound

Global stocks falter as Spain renews debt crisis fears

April 10, 2012    

European Bank Shares Take a Nosedive

April 01, 2012 A Sign of the Times: Big Hiring is Back at US Colleges  

 

March 30, 2012   Oil ends quarter up 14 pct on Iran, supply problems

 

March 22, 2012 Jobless claims at 4-year low, lift recovery hopes European Manufacturing And Services Contract Unexpectedly In March

Weak manufacturing fuels China growth worries

March 5, 2012 Service sector expands at fastest pace in year US factory orders fell 1 percent as businesses sharply reduced demand for capital goods

 

February 28, 2012 Strong Consumer Confidence Data Lift Dow Past 13,000

Durable goods orders fall by most in 3 years

Sentiment Damped as Greece Downgraded to Selective Default

February 3, 2012 In impressive surge, nation adds 243,000 jobs in January; unemployment rate lowest in 3 years

 

 

February 2, 2012  

 

US January Job Cuts Jump 39% – Challenger

January 31, 2012 Dow and S&P have best January since ’97

 

Confidence Decline Points to Cooling U.S. Growth

Home prices dropped in November in most US cities

U.S. Will Run $1.1 Trillion Deficit, CBO Says: Washington Mover

January 26, 2012 Index of U.S. Leading Economic Indicators Rises a Third Consecutive Month   Nationwide, new home sales had worst year in 2011
January 20, 2012 U.S. Home Sales Rise 5% in December   U.S. Housing Starts Drop 4.1%, Worse Than Forecast
January 19, 2012

Unemployment claims at 352,000, fewest since 2008

   
January 18, 2012 Markets rally as France, Spain clear bond hurdle, Greek debt-reduction talks remain in focus    
January 12, 2012 Strong Italy, Spain bond auctions buoy stocks Retail sales weak, jobless claims up last week For Europe, Few Options in a Vicious Cycle of Debt
January 06, 2012 Unemployment rate falls as economy adds 200K jobs IMF losing confidence in Greece’s ability to reform: report  
December 29, 2011 Contract signings for US homes up in November Jobless claims rise 15K to 381K, missing expectations  
December 22, 2011 U.S. Housing Starts Jump 9.3%, to Highest in Year US 3Q GDP Revised Down To 1.8% Gain From 2%  
December 20, 2011 Europe hopes, strong housing starts lift stocks House Republicans Poised to Force Impasse Over Payroll Tax Cut Is China The Next EU?
December 16, 2011 Jobless Claims in U.S. Drop to Three-Year Low Industrial Production in U.S. Unexpectedly Fell in November  
December 12, 2011 Bank Credit Highest Since Before Lehman as U.S. Growth Continues   European Banks Taking Cash From Governments Seen Sparking ‘Vicious Cycle’
December 8, 2011 Jobless claims at 9-month low as recovery quickens Stocks Extend Losses on Concern Over Europe Bank Capital to Weather Crisis Plummeting Income Shaves Household Cash
December 1, 2011 Factories growing despite global slowdown Jobless claims rise above 400,000 Factories stall worldwide
November 30, 2011 Dow Jumps Most Since 2009 as Central Banks Take Action on Crisis S&P downgrades top US banks’ credit ratings Italy borrowing cost soars as euro pressure mounts
Novemer 29, 2011 U.S. Stocks Advance as Consumer Confidence Exceeds Estimates S&P Smacks Major Banks With Downgrades U.S. Home Prices Fall 2.2 Percent From a Year Earlier, FHFA Says
November 18, 2011 Leading indicators signal stronger economic growth Deep spending cuts pose a new threat to US economy Real Estate: Why Home Prices Won’t Bottom Out
November 10, 2011 Declining Inventories Hint at Rise in Output

U.S. Stocks Tank On Euro Zone Fears

Home Prices Keep Dropping
November 7, 2011 UPS expects 6 percent rise in holiday shipments   US poverty at new high: 16 percent, or 49.1M
November 3, 2011 U.S. Stocks Rise After Greece Abandons Vote   Italian bond yields spike to record highs
November 1, 2011 Trucks, SUVs power strong auto sales in October Greek referendum spooks investors, may chill economy  
October 27, 2011 Stocks surge on European debt deal, GDP growth Eurozone wins respite, but it could be brief Contracts to buy homes fell 4.6 percent in Sept.
October 26, 2011 U.S. Economy: Durable Goods Orders Help Sustain Expansion Impasse on Greek Debt Relief Threatens EU Crisis Summit Deal Nightmare scenario: U.S. deflation risks rising
October 21, 2011 Stocks rise sharply on solid corporate earnings Payrolls Declined in 25 U.S. States, Led by NC Student Loan Debt Leads to Despair, Protests — and Many Defaults
October 4, 2011 Stocks stage late rally, erasing losses Bernanke says economic recovery close to faltering

Greece has weeks left before bankruptcy

September 22, 2011 Initial jobless claims in U.S. fell 9,000 last week to 423,000 FedEx see global slowdown, cuts profit outlook

Dow falls 391 on worldwide fears about economy

September 20, 2011 An optimistic look ahead to Q4 earnings August home building fell 5 pct., slide continues IMF: World economy enters ‘dangerous new phase’
September 15, 2011 Stocks Rise on Bank Support Plan for Europe   Consumer Prices, Unemployment Claims Rise
September 13, 2011   Budget Deficit in U.S. Grew to $134.2 Billion in August on Calendar Effect Census Data Shows Rising Poverty in U.S.
September 8, 2011 Trade deficit narrowed to $44.8 billion in July Weekly U.S. jobless claims rise to 414,000

OECD: Global economic outlook much worse in last 3 months

September 7, 2011 Businesses post most job openings in 3 years Survey: U.S. falls to 5th on global competitiveness  
September 1, 2011 Retailers report solid gains for August    
August 31, 2011 Strong autos drove July factory orders up 2.4 pct.    
August 30, 2011     Consumer confidence lowest in 2 years
August 29, 2011 Consumer spending data allays recession worries    
August 9, 2011 Dow soars 429 points on Fed statement    
August 8, 2011     Dow plunges 634 points; Nasdaq, S&P fall almost 7%
August 6, 2011     S.& P. Downgrades Debt Rating of U.S. for the First Time
August 5, 2011 Hubbard: A recession isn’t likely Recession Almost Certain, Money Manager Says Leo Hindery Says U.S. Never Got Out of Recession
August 4, 2011     Dow falls 512 in steepest decline since ’08 crisis
August 3, 2011   Going nowhere: Economy struggles to find footing Unemployment rose in nearly all US cities
July 21, 2011

Dow Surges on Earnings, Greek Debt Plan

Advance in U.S. Leading Index Signals Recovery to Pick Up in Second Half

Consumers in U.S. Relying on Credit as Inflation Erodes Incomes

Layoffs Deepen Gloom

 

July 19, 2011

Dow Surges 202 Points, Nasdaq Roars on Strong Earnings

Housing Starts Rise 14.6% to Five-Month High

   
July 18, 2011   Stocks stumble as global debt woes weigh – Financial stocks lead broad selloff; gold hits record high  
July 13, 2011 Energy and Materials Lead US Stocks Higher Budget Deficit on Track to Top $1 Trillion

Gold Advances to Record on Debt Crisis

Stock Index Futures Fall After Moody’s Warning

July 8, 2011     Dismal Jobs Report Raises Doubts About Economic Recovery
July 7, 2011 Companies Added 157,000 Workers to Payrolls U.S. Consumer Confidence Declines From a 10-Week High in Bloomberg Index  
June 16, 2011 Confidence Erodes Among Factories, Consumers Greek Default Could Trigger Chain Reaction
June 9, 2011 Americans’ Equity in their Homes Near Record Low U.S. Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Climb
June 1, 2011 ADP Data Suggests Stall in Job Growth What Recovery? The Economy’s Weak and Getting Weaker, Says Mish
May 25, 2011   Durable goods orders fall the most in 6 months U.S. home prices fell 5.5% in first quarter
May 9, 2011     Home values see biggest drop since 2008
May 7, 2011    
May 5, 2011   U.S. jobless claims jump points to slowing recovery  
May 2, 2011   Teen joblessness may hit record this summer
April 30, 2011 Strong earnings from Caterpillar drive Dow higher 5 banks fail in Fla., Ga., Mich.; makes 39 in ’11 Dollar extends slide on views of low US rates
April 28, 2011 Best Job Market for U.S. Grads Since 2008 Leading to Multiple Offers

First-time unemployment filings head the wrong way

U.S. High Debt Rating ‘Unfair’: Weiss

April 27, 2011 Unemployment falls in 80 pct. of large cities   Comptroller: $8 billion shortfall in Ill. budget
April 19, 2011 Markets Rally on Company Results, Outlooks Eurozone Hit by Greek Debt Fears, Aid Backlash Dollar Plunges as U.S. Rate Outlook Spurs Bid for Yield
April 15, 2011 U.S. Stocks Gain After Manufacturing Reports Top Estimates Consumers feel the pinch of pricier gas and food 6 banks shuttered; makes 34 closed in ’11
April 14, 2011 Consumer Confidence in U.S. Rises Third Straight Week on Job-Market Gains Higher energy prices push wholesale prices higher Stocks Slide After Unemployment Claims Jump
April 1, 2011
(no fooling)

Dow Reaches 2011 High After Unemployment Falls

February Construction Activity Drop 1.4 Percent

 
March 25, 2011

Texas jobless rate dips to 8.2 percent in February

Florida jobless rate drops to 11.5 percent in Feb.

La. has 21,200 more non-farm jobs than year ago

Oil Hits Highest Levels Since Recession

Consumer Comfort Index in U.S. Drops to Seven-Month Low

 
March 24, 2011 Stocks Rise After Earnings Continue to Impress Durable Goods Orders Fall .9 Percent in February  
March 18, 2011 Stocks Rally as Banks Boost Dividends Nearly 20% of Florida homes are vacant CBO: Obama understates deficits by $2.3 trillion
March 17, 2011 Stronger Economic Data Points to More Hiring   US Cost of Living Hits Record

February 22, 2011

 

Oil Prices Surge To New Highs — When Will They Wallop The Economy?

 

January 12, 2011

 

 

 

Housing Market Slips Into Depression Territory

January 5, 2011

 

 

Bankruptcies top 1.5 million in 2010

December 16, 2010

 

 

December 9, 2010

 

 

American homes are worth $1.7 trillion less

December 8, 2010

 

 

November 30, 2010

 

 

2nd Leg of Home Price Declines Underway

November 29, 2010

 

 

November 24, 2010

 

 

November 23, 2010

 

Existing U.S. Home Sales Fall Twice Amount Forecast in October, Down 2.2%

November 22, 2010

 

 

November 18, 2010

 

Prime U.S. Mortgage Foreclosures Hit Record as Unemployment Hurts Finances

November 16, 2010

 

U.S. stocks slide sharply on Irish debt trouble

November 11, 2010

 

 
November 9, 2010

CEOs Most Optimistic on U.S. Profits in Bull Signal for S&P 500

Job openings drop for second straight month

 
November 3, 2010 Stocks surge a day after Fed reveals stimulus plan   Applications for jobless aid rise sharply
November 1, 2010 Manufacturing activity surges in October

 

U.S. home prices expected to slide another 8%

October 13, 2010   Foreclosure-Gate a “Small Sub-Issue” of Banks’ $2.7T “Paper Problem,” Dan Alpert Says
September 28, 2010 Ken Fisher Dubs New Normal `Idiotic,’ Sees `Great’ Decade Ahead   U.S. Economy “Close to a Destructive Tipping Point,” Glenn Hubbard Says
September 26, 2010 Treasury Said to Ready Plan to Sell AIG Stake, Recoup Taxpayer Investment    
September 21, 2010 Home construction jumps 10.5 pct in August   Unemployment rises in 27 states last month
September 16, 2010     US adds 3.8 million more to ranks of the poor as poverty rate jumps
September 15, 2010   Mortgage Applications Index in U.S. Declines for a Second Week Retirement on Hold: American Workers $6 Trillion Short
September 2, 2010 Stocks move higher following jobs, housing reports    
September 1, 2010 Markets start September with a bang; Dow up 255   US auto sales turn frail in August
August 29, 2010 Bernanke Says Fed Ready to Provide Stimulus If Needed    
August 16, 2010 U.S. credit card losses fall more than expected Homebuilder confidence sinks for 3rd month  
August 12, 2010   Foreclosure Activity Increases 4 Percent in July New Jobless Claims Highest Since February
August 11, 2010 Macy’s Raises Outlook on a Surge in Profit   Stocks dive amid global pessimism
August 10, 2010   Fed, worried about recovery, will buy US debt  
August 06, 2010

 

  U.S. Lost 131,000 Jobs as Governments Cut Back
August 03, 2010

Consumers cut back on credit cards again in June

Consumer Spending Stagnates in June Pending Sales of Existing U.S. Homes Decrease 2.6%
August 02, 2010

Economic reports give stocks big start for August

US economic stress heads back up  
July 29, 2010     Bullard Urges Fed Buy Bonds If Deflation Risk Grows
July 26, 2010 FedEx boosts forecast for current quarter, year United Technologies to cut another 1,500 job cuts U.S. Small-Business Aid May Create $300 Billion of `Junk’ Loans
July 25, 2010     The Middle Class in America Is Radically Shrinking. Here Are the Stats to Prove it
July 22, 2010 Stocks surge on upbeat earnings and forecasts   Home sales hit 3-month low, jobless claims spike
July 21, 2010 Manufacturers’ view rosier as demand returns Bernanke warns economic outlook ‘uncertain’ U.S. bailout watchdogs slam Obama housing programs
July 20, 2010 New Gadgets Power Apple Sales    
July 16, 2010     Consumer Sentiment Sinks to Lowest in 11 Months
July 14, 2010   Dim retail sales hurt economy as Fed sees weakness  
July 13, 2010 Citing Demand, Intel Tops Forecast    
July 12, 2010

Wall St. Hiring in Anticipation of an Economic Recovery

  More Americans’ credit scores sink to new lows
       

July 6, 2010

Credit card delinquencies
fall to 8-year low

Retailers’ Sales Rise Most in 4 Years, Overcoming Job Concerns

American Dream Elusive for New Generation

 

June 19, 2010

   

Cost of Seizing Fannie and Freddie Surges for Taxpayers

Cost of Seizing Fannie and Freddie Surges for Taxpayers