This is positive news for the economy because even though both companies raised prices, people continued to consume the higher priced brands of these two top-tier consumer products companies.  Typically in a recession consumers flee higher priced brand names for the lower costs of generic and store brands.  Read the full story here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSN3050453920090430?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews

People around the World are beginning to realize that the sky indeed is not collapsing onto them, and a bottom is in sight if not near.  Japan’s industrial output rose for the first time in six months. Consumer spending ticked up slightly…all positive news for world-wide economies… Read the full story here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/business/01markets.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

When companies cut production some month’s ago and consumers really continued consuming, inventories began to shrink.  Now there’s indication that production will have to ramp back up as inventories begin to be depleted.  This lead to positive sentiment on Wall Street, and will help spur the economy further when production ramps up.  I have it one good authority that Toyota Motor in Georgetown where most of the Camry’s in America are produced, is ramping their production back up again in June, after a few months of tense times for employees there.

http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE53J1T120090429?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews

I released a short PR piece to local media and the local ABC affiliate, WHAS11 picked up the ball and did a very nice piece on how Meyzeek Middle School’s eigth grade class was able to attend their trip in large part to the generosity to readers of this website. I’m very grateful to those who dug deep, now see some of the kids that will get to go to Washington this week thanks to your generosity.

Click here for the video:

http://www.whas11.com/video/whas11video-index.html?nvid=356232&shu=1

Excerpt:

“WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Finance chiefs from the G7 powers said on Friday the global economy may be past the worst phase of a recession although recovery was not yet assured, and they pledged to make sure that big financial firms are sound.”

Full Story:

http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE53M52K20090425?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews

Finally, I hear the word “plummet” in a sentence and don’t recoil.  Today the supply of unsold homes dropped more in March than it has in 45 years.  Positive news indeed for the economy, for March anyway..and we’ll take it!  Read the full story:

http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSN2441697520090424?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews

From Reuters News Service:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. economy is starting to show signs of shrinking more slowly but positive growth is not expected until sometime next year, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

“There has been some improvement in business confidence, some signs of bottoming out in housing market, but these are early days and we should not expect a return to growth any time soon,” Charles Collyns, IMF’s deputy director of research, told a press conference.

“We don’t expect a return to positive growth in the U.S. until some time next year,” he said in response to a question.

Collyns also said China was showing considerable resilience as it had reacted strongly to counter the global slump.

(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani and Lesley Wroughton; Editing by James Dalgleish)

Here’s an article that highlights the negative impact on the economy by the press, how positive reporting could improve our economy, and how this is not the first time this topic has been studied.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/mar/09/korda-negative-economic-news-contributing-negative/

3.5 Billion in profits for the first quarter..  That’s positive economic news amidst the flurry of negative reports about the banking industry…

http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE53L2IP20090422?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews

Some of today’s top positive stories from our economy:

Schering-Plough profits 3/4 billion for 1st quarter, beating expectations

Honda Motor Co says US car market is showing signs of bottoming out

United Health tops profit expectations

Tesco, the World’s number 3 retailer posts record annual profits

Federal Reserve’s #2 man also says economy shows signs that it may  stabilize later this year

Survey shows slight rebound in capital spending