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Well, there was still job loss last month - though the number is relatively small in relation to the size of the economy (and TINY compared to the job losses of a year ago), and it's quite possible that number could be revised into job GROWTH (the way November 2009's was) once all the data is in.
In event, there's a pretty good chance that February's numbers will show job growth. We're right at the cusp of that so it's hard to say for sure - but it should happen very soon.
Some companies are still cutting back while others are now hiring. What's important is whether there is a net gain or a net loss. We are right at the point where we can probably expect to see a net GAIN in jobs - if not in February, then likely in March.
Regarding people buying - well that IS starting to happen:
"WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation (NRF) assessed retail sales figures released last week by the U.S. Commerce Department as modest yet encouraging. Those figures revealed that total retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories) increased 0.5 percent seasonally adjusted over December and 3.2 percent unadjusted year-over-year."
January Retail Sales Continue Slow Road to Recovery (http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/Daily/Pages/ND0216104.aspx - broken link)
Ken
Its too close to really call. Not enough to claim that stimulus is a BIG success.
Increased spending is not neccessarily the same news as increased profits either. I've noticed that a lot of businesses around here are offering all kinds of deals and bargains. Even "$75" in cash or spending money if a bank account is opened.
I haven't inquired what the $75 is ever referring too. I know that nothing is for free. So it may be an advertising program the bank is using paid for by retailers. More or less, an artificial attempt to get people to spend money. As for the $75, those consumers will eventually pay it back through the product they buy.
So in a nutshell, I see an economy that seems to have pulled-out of a crash dive into a level flight about 100 feet above ground level, still needing to gain altitude. Meanwhile, Obama is piloting the plane, calling over the radio that he is cruising at 10,000 feet, which is not so.
Likely that altitude will gain, but the pilot and crew are not telling the complete story.
"Just look at the outside evaluations of the stimulus. Perhaps the best-known economic research firms are IHS Global Insight, Macroeconomic Advisers and Moody’s Economy.com. They all estimate that the bill has added 1.6 million to 1.8 million jobs so far and that its ultimate impact will be roughly 2.5 million jobs. The Congressional Budget Office, an independent agency, considers these estimates to be conservative."
Just look at the outside evaluations of the stimulus. Perhaps the best-known economic research firms are IHS Global Insight, Macroeconomic Advisers and Moody’s Economy.com. They all estimate that the bill has added 1.6 million to 1.8 million jobs so far and that its ultimate impact will be roughly 2.5 million jobs. The Congressional Budget Office, an independent agency, considers these estimates to be conservative.
Increased spending is not neccessarily the same news as increased profits either. I've noticed that a lot of businesses around here are offering all kinds of deals and bargains. Even "$75" in cash or spending money if a bank account is opened.
LOL
First you folks argue that when companies post increased profits (as many companies have been doing for the last 2 quarters) does not mean increased sales but merely greater profit because of cost cutting - THEN when companies post improved sales you argue that improved sales doesn't mean improved profit.
Get a clue!
More and more companies are posting improved profit AND improved sales.
Just ask the management at Caterpillar, Amazon, Intel, etc, etc, etc.
When Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine was told this morning in an interview that some 6% of the country do not believe any jobs were "saved", he responded that thousands of jobs in government that were on the chopping block were saved.
Increased spending is not neccessarily the same news as increased profits either. I've noticed that a lot of businesses around here are offering all kinds of deals and bargains. Even "$75" in cash or spending money if a bank account is opened.
I haven't inquired what the $75 is ever referring too. I know that nothing is for free. So it may be an advertising program the bank is using paid for by retailers. More or less, an artificial attempt to get people to spend money. As for the $75, those consumers will eventually pay it back through the product they buy.
So in a nutshell, I see an economy that seems to have pulled-out of a crash dive into a level flight about 100 feet above ground level, still needing to gain altitude. Meanwhile, Obama is piloting the plane, calling over the radio that he is cruising at 10,000 feet, which is not so.
Likely that altitude will gain, but the pilot and crew are not telling the complete story.
No doubt that the American people haven't known the complete story.
That is what kept us from having another Great Depression.
Fear is a big part of why people aren't spending money and as long as people continue not to spend the economy will stay stagnant.
On both sides. Too close to call a "BIG" success for a stimulus package. Much of which was spent on pork.
The improved profits AND sales occuring around the country is NOT opinion - nor is the fact that companies such as Caterpillar and Cisco are starting to hire.
Ken
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Notice, these jobs are "in government". 
