Here’s the skinny on the actualy plan to rebate us up to $1800 for a couple with two children (my situation), as long as you do not exceed $150,000 in adjusted gross income.  It also includes stimulus for business to purchase equipment and expand.  It also goes on to reveal some of the results of the tax rebates of 2001 and 03.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080124-4.html

Interesting.  Unemployment at a five year low, manufacturing is rebounding back towards a slow growth mode in January, yet this talk of recession abounds.  Pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and realize that WE control the economy.  If we consume, everyone stays employed… You have to look for it, because this story was absolutely buried at CNN.  It’s there folks, good economic news abounds!

http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/01/news/economy/ism/index.htm

So this is local news…but it’s good!

http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2008/02/25/daily19.html?f=et66&ana=e_du

And according to the article, the national unemployment rate is at its lowest since 2000.  Not bad for an economy teetering on the brink of a recession.

So let’s say you’re not convinced we’re going into a recessionary period.  So what? Is it a reason to further fuel the fire and stock up on milk and bread?  Hardly.  In fact our economy has always recovered from recessionary times.  Why we even came back from the great depression.  I think this is hardly worth all the coverage it seems to be getting.  And since “recession” is getting stale in the news, we’ve started hearing the old addage “stagflation”, the  combination of a stagnated economy and inflation. 

Here’s a great site that can give you some perspective on the good economic news that comes out of post-recessionary times:

http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2005/08/post_recession_.html

An economic stiumulus package is being approved and should provide a shot in the arm for our economy.  Read what the Economic Policy Institute has to say about a package that will provide the benefits we need to boost our economy and keep it from a recession.

http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/bp210

While Money Sage isn’t always reporting “positive” news, I believe the news is fair, accurate, and balanced.  All economic news is not good, this I understand.  But reporting only news that drives fear, and revenue is irresponsible, and in my opinion fuels the fire of recession.  Some good economic analysis here:

http://money-sage.com/node/277

Nice piece by Kevin Hassett of Bloomberg focusing more attention on the good things that happened in our economy in 2007.  He points out several key factors that, if we allow them to, will drive more good economic news for not only the United States, but the World, in 2008 and beyond.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=a.VtABIaN5ck&refer=columnist_hassett

The emotionally laden investors driven by the very prospect of good news or bad news reacted positively when HP posted better than expected profits.  This caused an immediate 8.3% jump in their stock which led to a ripple effect for other tech-based companies like IBM. 

http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSL1920408420080220?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews

B2B reported that of 684 marketers surveyed in the B2B arena, only 29% are revising their ad budgets down due to economic worries.  58% did not revise and the positive news is that 12.3% are actually going to revise their budgets UP!  The reasoning as I see it as a former corporate B2B marketing manager, take advantage of your competition as they pull back.  Now is a good time to get “deals” on advertising as media scramble to compete…

http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080211/FREE/145844916/1109/FREE

http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080211/FREE/907927661/1109/FREE

That’s not just good news for Abercrombie, but good news for the condition of our spending trends.  Abercrombie is a boutique store that sells trendy, expensive apparel.  If we truly were concerned about economic conditions, would specialty stores still be ripe with profits?  If we see retailers like Abercrombie, Brooks Bros., and other higher-end apparel taking hits, it’s a good sign people are pulling back and purchasing more of their clothes at discount retailers such as Target or Walmart. Read the full story:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/15/ap/business/main3836036.shtml