The economy is improving..... how?

[Wheresmycoffee]

Companies A, B and C produce raw materials, which they sell to a manufacturer.
Companies D, E and F, the manufacturers, take those raw materials and turn out finished product that they sell to wholesalers.
Companies G, H and I, the wholesalers, purchase those finished products and sell them to retailers.
Retailers purchase from multiple wholesalers and sell to you, the end consumer.

Supply chain economics. When consumer spending is up, the retailers purchase more from the wholesalers, who purchase more from the manufacturers, who purchase more from the raw material producers. This is an "up" economy. When consumer spending is down, the reverse happens. This is a "down" economy.

The common thread through the supply chain is the trucking industry without which none of the materials or products would move. As such, this industry is a bellwether for the economic tides. When the trucking companies see an uptick in their tonnage, the economy is on the rise, when the tonnage being shipped drops, the economy is ailing.

I have been in the trucking industry for 30+ years and have seen many of these cycles. Here is the question I have.

The Administration and the Media are touting an improvement in the economy.

The top 20 trucking companies in the US have seen declining tonnage from 5% to 20% for FIVE CONSECUTIVE QUARTERS (check ANY of the publicly traded companies). All of them recently reported their Qtr 3 figures, and ALL of them reported from 10% to 30% reductions in overall tonnage being shipped.

All of them. These top 20 companies account for and move 90% of the freight in the US.

If ALL of these companies report downturns in tonnage in double digit figures, how is the economy rebounding? If consumer spending was increasing, the supply chain would be reacting. It is not.

I'm no economist. Somebody want to take a stab at explaining this "recovery" to me please?

[patriot_son]

If the economy is improving that is so only in the minds of the mentaly inept.
Now, not being an idiot, I know that the people at the top are not suffering mental atrophy, which leads me to believe that they are in fact liars.
Obama, you lie.

[angeliclucero]

The economy is improving because many people went out and bought cars and houses due to the gov't subsidies. Many companies are reporting good earnings not due to increased sales but due to cost cutting - mainly layofffs. So to the vast majority of dumbed down Americans the government can claim that things are improving. Just more rhetoric from Obama and his crew.

[patriot_son]

Originally Posted by angeliclucero

The economy is improving because many people went out and bought cars and houses due to the gov't subsidies. Many companies are reporting good earnings not due to increased sales but due to cost cutting - mainly layofffs. So to the vast majority of dumbed down Americans the government can claim that things are improving. Just more rhetoric from Obama and his crew.

Right on, Lucero! The devil smiles broadly, and fools hang around awaiting their daily rations

[Pauligan]

Originally Posted by angeliclucero

The economy is improving because many people went out and bought cars and houses due to the gov't subsidies. Many companies are reporting good earnings not due to increased sales but due to cost cutting - mainly layofffs. So to the vast majority of dumbed down Americans the government can claim that things are improving. Just more rhetoric from Obama and his crew.

Yeah, it's the same tactics the Bush adminsistration used throughout his eight years in office. Those politicians can't seem to convince a guy without a job that the economy is good.

[patriot_son]

Those who are unemployed because of whatever set of circumstances usually blame government, and usually with good cause.
If government stopped meddling in the affairs of business and quit going into business ventures itself, we might find ourselves back in the black again, and sooner than later.

[Wheresmycoffee]

We've had 3 rounds of layoffs. I was informed today that round 4 is underway. I have to lay off 30 drivers plus a dispatcher from my office, and that doesn't take into account the hourly reductions that go along with it.

My company is doing better than most.

Again I ask, will someone explain to me how the economy is rebounding? This isn't a rhetorical or facetious question.

[Pauligan]

Originally Posted by patriot_son

Those who are unemployed because of whatever set of circumstances usually blame government, and usually with good cause.
If government stopped meddling in the affairs of business and quit going into business ventures itself, we might find ourselves back in the black again, and sooner than later.

It would be even better if business stayed out of our government.

[Pauligan]

Originally Posted by Wheresmycoffee

We've had 3 rounds of layoffs. I was informed today that round 4 is underway. I have to lay off 30 drivers plus a dispatcher from my office, and that doesn't take into account the hourly reductions that go along with it.

My company is doing better than most.

Again I ask, will someone explain to me how the economy is rebounding? This isn't a rhetorical or facetious question.

I think they mean the banks are doing pretty well now...remember, they are the ones that got all the money.

[patriot_son]

Originally Posted by Pauligan

It would be even better if business stayed out of our government.

lol Touche! Yes, the 'meddling' works from either end of the teeter-totter, eh?