Real quick economics LESSON for you armchair economists... UNEMPLOYEMENT IS A LAGGING INDICATOR... The high of 6.4 and the latest reading of 6.2 should tell you something UNEMPLOYMENT has hit it's bottom:) What area of the GDP has shown to sustain the latest CYCLICAL economical down turn???? That's right CONSUMER SPENDING... Now The GDP has been lagging in what areas??? That's righht boys and girls CAPITAL SPENDING & MANUFACTURING!!!! Ok we know where it needs to improve before a full recovery in the soft labor market, which remember is the last to respond... what has happened so far??? The ISM reading on Friday came in at 51.8 which ANYTHING over 50 means EXPANSION... So that report means that the much needed manufacturing sector has shown some life, a defenite plus in recovering the lossed jobs in that sector... Now if we look at history my anti-bush/pessimistic failure seekers, recession is cyclical and it happens every 10-13 years just like the record growth we experienced from 83-84 -- 88-89 years under Reagen to the BOOMING 90's that fell into the lap of BUBBA.. Now the current pickup in the buisness cycle is setting it's place in history what stalled it slightly was the stalling of OUR buisness mega machine following 911 and 2 wars that has caused the lagging element of the GDP,capital investment.. The business sector has gained confidence and the record build up of technology in the late 90's is starting to become outdated which is a plus.. There are companies reporting earnings that have improved from last year..Yes there are still companies that are lagging but that's business for you , don't worry we have gone over the hump..