Quote from Warrior4g:
as for the unemployment rate,does it carry as much weight as it once did? i ask this because so many are self employed now and work from home via the internet as well as other service related self employment jobs.
"Banks Still ExpandingQuote from HolyGrail:
That is simply not true. Banks contract their loan books while interest rates are declining. The risk/reward ratio is not to their liking at these very low rates. They will open up their loan books when interest rates look like they are stabilizing or have a good chance of moving up.
Quote from makloda:
"Banks Still Expanding
By Tony Crescenzi
1/7/2008 3:49 PM EST
The Federal Reserve's most recent data on bank credit, which measures the total amount of money extended by commercial banks via loans, leases and securities purchases, continues to expand at a fast pace.
The expansion is being spurred, in part, by the movement of structured investment vehicles onto the balance sheets of banks and by continued re-intermediation of credit formerly raised in the capital markets. This shows that the credit crunch is not playing out in the banking system in the very negative way that is often perceived.
In the week ended Dec. 26, bank credit increased a solid $30.4 billion to $9.26 trillion following an increase of $64.4 billion the previous week. The gains put the annualized increase since the end of July at about 18%, roughly double the pace of the past five years."
Quote from Warrior4g:
U.S. recession to be longer than usual, according to University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey - Reuters
The U.S. economy has entered a recession that will be more painful and drawn out than the usual downturn, the director of the Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey said on Friday. Inflation pressures will linger despite the retrenchment in consumer spending, complicating the task of policy-makers, the University's Richard Curtin said in a report, citing data from industry group The Conference Board. "This is no ordinary recession," he said. "The aftereffects will last much longer than the typical downturn."
this just hit the wires.

Quote from ammo:
watch wealthtrack,starts now,6.30 cst pbs channel 20 in chicago, these ostriches do not have their heads in the sand,smart guests , not the usual hold and you'll make money over the longrun, last week were guessing 40% drawdown,U.S.
