Consumer confidence pops in August to highest level since October 2000 - Consumer confidence rose in August despite expectations it would slip. - The August reading is the highest since October 2000. - The survey measures American's sentiment on current economic conditions and prospects for the next six months, including business and labor market conditions.
By Michael Sheetz - CNBC, Aug 28, 2018
Consumer confidence rose in August to its highest level since October 2000, building on July's solid result.
The Conference Board's index climbed to 133.4 in August, despite expectations from a survey of Reuters' economists that it would fall to 126.7. The measure rose slightly last month to 127.4, up from 127.1 in June as consumers reported better feelings toward the economy in the near term but less optimism about long-term growth.
"Expectations, which had declined in June and July, bounced back in August and continue to suggest solid economic growth for the remainder of 2018," Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at The Conference Board, said in a statement.
August saw that optimism increase among consumers, the Conference Board found, with the percentage of consumers expecting business conditions will get better over the next six months increasing to 24.3 percent from 22.9 percent.
"These historically high confidence levels should continue to support healthy consumer spending in the near-term," Franco added.
The survey measures American's sentiment on current economic conditions and prospects for the next six months, including business and labor market conditions. Since consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, economists' pay close attention to the number.
President Trump welcomed the president of Kenya, President Kenyatta, to the White House yesterday.
At apx 1:20 in this video clip, President Kenyatta says to President Trump:
quote:
I had a good opportunity to speak with Mike [Pompeo], both in his former capacity [CIA director] and his current capacity [SoS]. (Laughter.) And we work very well together, and I want to take this opportunity to appreciate that.
It was a pleasure having @FirstLadyKenya at the @WhiteHouse today. I enjoyed learning about @BeyondZeroKenya & discussing our shared concerns for the well-being of children. #BeBest
Media Bias: A New Chart By Sharyl Attkisson - Aug 28, 2018
Where’s your favorite information source stand on the political scale?
I’ve updated the following subjective chart based on information compiled from various sources and your feedback. Some sources have shifted left or right, others have been added including: ESPN, McClatchy, the Federalist, Conservative Review, Washington Monthly, Twitchy, Gateway Pundit and Conservative Treehouse.
Please note that outlets on left and right sometimes publish material that’s on the opposite side of the political spectrum, or that has no political leaning at all. The placement is based on perceived overall tone and audience. Position on the chart doesn’t necessarily imply credibility or lack thereof. Sources on far right and far left have, in many instances, produced excellent, factually correct information at times.
I have loosely placed more traditional information sources in the top half of the chart working down toward aggregators, fact-checkers, opinion sites and less news-related sources. (This posed some position challenges since most of traditional information sources are left-leaning.) I did not attempt to place individual programs or broadcasts.
Compiling such a chart is obviously difficult for many reasons, some of them having to do with space. The spacing should be considered relative and not an indicator of absolute position. A number of the information sources technically belong on top of one another.
You have contributed terrific ideas, such as sizing boxes based on audience, and dividing into quadrants. This is a work in progress. Thanks for your input!
Think a source should be moved? Want one added? Leave a comment!
Our new Trade Deal with Mexico focuses on FARMERS, GROWTH for our country, tearing down TRADE BARRIERS, JOBS and having companies continue to POUR BACK INTO OUR COUNTRY. It will be a big hit!
-- President Donald J. Trump, 10:19 PM - Aug 28, 2018
Gross domestic product increased at a 4.2 percent annualized rate, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday in its second estimate of GDP growth for the April-June quarter. That was slightly up from the 4.1 percent pace of expansion it reported in July and was the fastest rate since the third quarter of 2014.
The bad lip reading joke is getting old, clever as it was when stoner college kids invented it at a party I was at in 1977.
Or was that when everyone "watched" MTV music videos, ( remember them? ) with the sound off and the radio on, and marveled at the times the two would synch up?
Anyhoo, this bad lip read really captures the White House briefing & the best press Sec in my memory.
HOLY SHIT. @CNN is now LYING on Black Americans accusing US of committing the violent atrocities that ANTIFA commits across the nation.
quote:
This is literally @CNN being HORRIBLY RACIST. Blaming black Americans for crimes that an ALL-WHITE gang commits—why? Because white Democrats are incapable of violence, and only black democrats are?
UNBELIEVABLY RACIST @JeffreyToobin. ANTIFA has nothing to do with the blacks.
quote:
Using black people as a shield so that the white democrat gang ANTIFA can commit violence undetected is a new RACIST low for @CNN.
quote:
The Left launched a war on police officers to secure the black vote. Their media used the horrific death of Philando Castile to manipulate black minds.
President Trump Highlights Severity of CNN’s Credibility Collapse CTH - Aug 29, 2018
Earlier tonight President Trump tweeted about how far CNN is willing to destroy itself in a bizarre effort to deny their factually false reporting, simply to defend the source of the mistake, Carl Bernstein:
Every single media outlet, other than CNN, is openly admitting the entire construct of the Lanny Davis-sourced article is false, including Lanny Davis himself. More Here.
Express Pro Survey – America’s blue collar workers may be one of the most optimistic groups in the country today. According to a new study conducted by The Harris Poll and commissioned by Express Employment Professionals, 85 percent of America’s blue collar workers see their lives heading “in the right direction.”
Sixty-nine (69) percent also say their local communities are heading in the right direction, and 51 percent say the same about the country as whole.
The national survey of 1,049 blue collar workers was conducted online by The Harris Poll between July 9 and 23, 2018, on behalf of Express and offers a detailed, in-depth look at the background and attitudes of those working in blue collar professions.
“There’s been a great deal of chatter about the future and frustrations of America’s blue collar workers,” said Express CEO Bill Stoller. “Our survey reveals that blue collar workers are upbeat, optimistic and proud of the work they do. While the news is often full of stories about economic anxieties, this survey shows workers who are exceptionally optimistic. While they certainly express concerns, it’s clear that the vast majority feel like things will work out for themselves and their families.”
FB1, that video that you posted, Posted on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 - 10:42 am: has allowed the BadWeb community AND those around the world to peer into the heart of President Trump. I too pray that we continue as a nation to lift all people up via Faith. We are truly living in a very special time. God bless you, your family, and our beautiful country. I truly hope and pray for a revival for our country! This could be the turning point.
FB1, that video that you posted [ https://youtu.be/vnOnrmqbCXc ] has allowed the BadWeb community AND those around the world to peer into the heart of President Trump.
Steve, I agree - this is probably the most powerful look into the heart of our President that I've seen since P45 announced his candidacy. You can't fake the respect and dignity displayed in this meeting, both to and from.
THIS is the president the left/mainstream media is so desperately trying to hide from the American public.
I too pray that we continue as a nation to lift all people up via Faith. We are truly living in a very special time.
I agree, amigo, and pray the same prayer.
God bless you, your family, and our beautiful country. I truly hope and pray for a revival for our country! This could be the turning point.
Thank you, my friend, what beautiful words! I currently have several crises swirling around me, and your kind words have uplifted me when I needed it the most.
May God bless you and yours, sir, and may God continue to bless our great nation.
Household Income Jumps To All-Time Highs Under President Trump - Why Isn't This Big News? Investors Business Daily - Aug 29, 2018
Median household income is up more than 4%, the economy is growing fast, optimism is at decades-long highs. Not that you'd know it, since the press is too busy trying to drive President Trump from office.
Inflation-adjusted median household incomes in July hit $62,450 according to the latest release from Sentier Research. That's the highest level since Sentier started tracking this more than 18 years ago. And if you combine Sentier's numbers with annual Census data, median household income is at all-time highs.
More interesting is the fact that median household income has shot up more than 4% in the 19 months since Trump took office. It had been flat over the previous year and a half. Over the course of President 0bama's entire eight years in office, median household income climbed a mere 0.3%, Sentier data show.
Overall economic growth is accelerating as well, after years of 0bama-induced stagnation. On Wednesday, the Commerce Department boosted its estimate of Second Quarter growth to 4.2%. That means average growth for first half of the year was above 3%. And if it continues strong in the third quarter - as appears to be the case - chances are we will see growth for the entire year at or above 3%. That would be the first time since 2005.
This, too, is a sharp turnaround that just happens to coincide with the Trump presidency. In 0bama's last year in office, GDP growth was an anemic 1.6%. The growth rate dropped in each of the last two quarters of that year. And economists were everywhere telling the public that 2% was the best we could do.
Perhaps that's why polls are showing the public's mood better than it's been in many years. Examples:
- The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index surged to a 14-year high in August. (The September reading comes out next week.) The IBD/TIPP poll also found that Americans are more satisfied with the direction of the country than they've been since 2005.
- The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index just reached an 18-year high at 133.4. The month before Trump won the election in November 2016, it was 98.6.
- The Conference Board also reports that job satisfaction is the highest it's been since 2005.
- A survey by Express Employment finds that blue collar workers are more upbeat about the direction of the economy than the general public.
Whatever one's view of President Trump, this is undeniably good news. After years of "unexpectedly" underperforming growth, the economy is giving every indication that it is returning to its vigorous norm.
But instead of heralding this news, the mainstream press either ignores, downplays or tries to explain it away. As we noted in this space recently, The New York Times and others keep trying to claim that the current boom was simply the continuation of growth set in motion during the 0bama years.
There's a simple reason for this. The press is singularly fixated on bringing down Trump at all costs. Since good economic news will help Trump, it must be overlooked.
Not that you'd know it, since the press is too busy trying to drive President Trump from office.
...because he, and news like this, is devastating to the Dem/Socialist goals of subordination of the masses. When people work, and are able to earn, and see good results of their working...it is about as anti-Socialist as can be.
The press is singularly fixated on bringing down Trump at all costs.
Which begs a couple of questions: Who is coordinating this "fixation," and why?
I truly believe it started when candidate-Trump started calling out fake news. They took it personally, but not seriously because really...there was no chance he'd win.
Then...he won. And he kept after the fake news. And that pissed them off. I believe the media's anti-Trump mentality simply grew from the "fake news" pissing match before/during/shortly after the election.
Since the pissing match continued (and does to this day), I think the Dems have simply merged their "Hillary-lost-butt-hurt" mentality with this press-corps pissing match, and it's simply snowballed.
Is there a wizard behind the curtain? Probably...now...but I don't think there was at the beginning.
Wizard? Committee. Sponsored? Absolutely. Disney, Bezos, Soros, the list of Media owners isn't that long.
^ I agree 100%.
Which leaves the question of "why" are they all so desperate to depose President Trump? I mean, their ongoing coup attempt goes WELL beyond simple butt hurt.
The news from the Financial Markets is even better than anticipated. For all of you that have made a fortune in the markets, or seen your 401k’s rise beyond your wildest expectations, more good news is coming!
-- President Donald J. Trump, 7:20 AM - Aug 30, 2018
