Guess what rose “unexpectedly”?
posted at 8:48 am on February 4, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
The Associated Press uses its favorite adverb today in reporting an economic development that is as predictable as sunrise (via No Runny Eggs):
The number of newly laid-off workers filing initial claims for jobless benefits rose unexpectedly last week, evidence that layoffs are continuing and jobs remain scarce.
The rise is the fourth in the past five weeks. Most economists hoped that claims would resume a downward trend that was evident in the fall and early winter.
The Labor Department says that new claims for unemployment insurance rose by 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 480,000. Wall Street economists had expected a drop to 460,000.
The rolling average rose for the third straight week as well. This follows yesterday’s report that planned layoffs have begun increasing again:
Planned layoff announcements at major U.S. corporations increased 59% in January, reaching 71,482 from a nine-year low of 45,094 seen in December, according to the latest job-cut tally by Challenger Gray & Christmas.
It was the first month-to-month increase in layoffs since July, the outplacement firm reported Wednesday. The figures are not seasonally adjusted. …
Planned reductions for last month were led by retail companies, which announced 16,737 job cuts, and telecommunications companies, which cut 14,010 jobs.
That would appear to cast a pall over tomorrow’s announcement from the Bureau of Labor Statistics about unemployment and job creation for January. Of course, if it turns out to be bad news, the media will call it an “unexpected” burp in the Glorious Recovery.
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everyone needs to prepare for shortages. and for looting. crime is getting worse.
kelley in virginia on February 4, 2010 at 8:52 AM
They do expect the Spanish Inquisition, however.
Mr. D on February 4, 2010 at 8:52 AM
I said yesterday that I expect the unexpected of there being a net job loss and not a gain.
MobileVideoEngineer on February 4, 2010 at 8:53 AM
Historically unprecedented.
JammieWearingFool on February 4, 2010 at 8:53 AM
Baghdad Barry says, “All your jobs are belong to us now.”
Mojave Mark on February 4, 2010 at 8:53 AM
Thank goodness we pushed through stimulus as fast as we did!
John the Libertarian on February 4, 2010 at 8:54 AM
It’s Boooooosh’s fault.
petefrt on February 4, 2010 at 8:54 AM
Can’t wait to see how the Zero administration is going to spin this.
Barry will probably disappear for a couple of days like he did over Christmas when Underpants Bomber nearly killed hundreds of Americans.
Hiding his head in the sand is standard operating procedure for 0bama.
UltimateBob on February 4, 2010 at 8:54 AM
No one expects the Spanish Inquistion!!
Bet ya didn’t expect THAT did ya Mr D? ;)
In other news, readers did not expect AP to use the word unexpected again………
Jim708 on February 4, 2010 at 8:54 AM
My (bleeeeeep)
We are experiencing technical difficulties, please stand by.
rbj on February 4, 2010 at 8:54 AM
Interesting. Maybe this is some insight into the Obama mind and what they mean by “hope and change”. They apparently think you predict things based on what you hope the outcome will be.
Buddahpundit on February 4, 2010 at 8:55 AM
Just didn’t see this coming…
myrenovations on February 4, 2010 at 8:55 AM
Another glorious day in the People’s Republic. What a grand opportunity to raise taxes, inflict nationalized healthcare, borrow trillions of dollars, and put the country back on track to prosperity.
Bishop on February 4, 2010 at 8:55 AM
Businesses waited until January to lay people off so at least workers would be employed at Christmas.
Wethal on February 4, 2010 at 8:55 AM
Clearly not enough. Commence release of StimulusII! (Or, is it III? I can’t keep track…)
Diane on February 4, 2010 at 8:55 AM
The News Organization That Cannot Be Quoted™ is not even hiding their bias anymore – not only was “unexpectedly” in the lede, it was the headline.
In other news, the boss noted yesterday the CBO is calling for an even-deeper Social Security cash deficit this year.
steveegg on February 4, 2010 at 8:55 AM
What happened to the bunny, Did it unexpectedly get laid off?
SHARPTOOTH on February 4, 2010 at 8:56 AM
Fundamentally transforming the country into a socialist utopia is no easy task, folks.
Disturb the Universe on February 4, 2010 at 8:58 AM
Hmmm…Double dip recession?
Christian Conservative on February 4, 2010 at 8:58 AM
All this means is Obama and the democrat-controlled Congress must turn further left.
SouthernGent on February 4, 2010 at 8:58 AM
The business world is hunkering down, in the face of upcoming madness by this admin.
OldEnglish on February 4, 2010 at 8:59 AM
Anger at the nation l socialist Democrat party?
Chip on February 4, 2010 at 8:59 AM
Who’s making the Bamster’s economic forecasts, Punxsutawney Phil?
petefrt on February 4, 2010 at 8:59 AM
I woke up this morning at 6:00, a time that had arrived unexpectedly, to the see the sun unexpectedly rising in the east, took a shower in which the water was unexpectedly wet, and poured myself a cup of coffee from the coffee maker I had set up and programmed the night before, that had unexpectedly produced a pot of coffee.
Then I stepped out of my house here in New Hampshire to find that it was unexpectedly cold outside, so I had to scrape off the frost that had unexpectedly formed on my windshield, using the ice scraper which I unexpectedly found behind the seat of the truck, right where I had left it.
Bruce in NH on February 4, 2010 at 9:00 AM
You know how, sometimes, you think you’re going to burp then something else happens. Is this one of those?
Extrafishy on February 4, 2010 at 9:01 AM
“With this Stimulus Bill, Unemployment will not rise about 8 %. Don’t you trust me?” President Barack Hussein Obama
kingsjester on February 4, 2010 at 9:01 AM
Yep.
ladyingray on February 4, 2010 at 9:01 AM
Rush told us this would be the case a month ahead of time. Looks like Rush does know these creatures better than any other pundit, and maybe better than these creatures know themselves.
Keemo on February 4, 2010 at 9:01 AM
One has to wonder when AP will report the most economist were hoping Obama would have an un-expected Massachusetts awakening.
Rovin on February 4, 2010 at 9:02 AM
if W was still in office they would constantly say ‘expectedly’…what a bunch of tools
cmsinaz on February 4, 2010 at 9:02 AM
And he’s still asking that question…but he isn’t listening to our answer!
ladyingray on February 4, 2010 at 9:02 AM
Its worse than that Buddah. They are “hoping” a past event was “trending” upwards. Or downwards.
Even if we are to believe this garbage – the media just set up an even bigger problem… if the trends were really going down – and analysts factored this into Jan’s “expectations” – unemployment is getting much, much worse.
Odie1941 on February 4, 2010 at 9:02 AM
the blame bush meme will continue on
cmsinaz on February 4, 2010 at 9:03 AM
Are they aware that they are being made fun of? Very professional.
Cindy Munford on February 4, 2010 at 9:03 AM
Let me show my shocked face…. :-o
tru2tx on February 4, 2010 at 9:03 AM
did the redhead get a job yet? Did the stormtrooper kick the bunny’s a$$?
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 9:03 AM
When temporary workers were being hired for the Christmas season. Now those workers are being laid off.
And I love how they choose to write about what people hoped would happen, rather than what was actually likely to happen.
Sometimes I think they hire temps to write this stuff.
BadgerHawk on February 4, 2010 at 9:03 AM
Storm Trooper blues.
Fletch54 on February 4, 2010 at 9:04 AM
the talking baby on E*trade has a new commercial with that in it for the Super Bowl. I caught part of it today, it looks hilarious
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 9:04 AM
And also, US credit rating at risk, Moody’s warns
petefrt on February 4, 2010 at 9:04 AM
Bruce in NH on February 4, 2010 at 9:00 AM
lol
Disturb the Universe on February 4, 2010 at 9:05 AM
Orszag rubs the unicorns rear end and the skittles come pouring out its rear end. If they’re mostly red, then things are awesome. If they’re mostly yellow, then things are wicked awesome. If they’re mostly purple, it’s time for a vacation.
Predictions.
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 9:06 AM
Methinks the AP needs to start conferring with a new set of economists… preferably ones with a firm grasp of reality.
either orr on February 4, 2010 at 9:06 AM
Future Headline:
Obowmao unexpectedly Cloward-Pivened the country.
Chip on February 4, 2010 at 9:07 AM
No problem. We’ll just create another federal agency, stock it with superbly trained, (and pensioned) previously unskilled workers from Baltimore, Gary, Newark and Detroit and stick all the privately employed with the bill.
You deserve it. You’re just a bunch of tea bagging, bible thumping, gun clinging racists anyway.
mr1216 on February 4, 2010 at 9:07 AM
dude, this is totally gold. strong work!!
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 9:07 AM
Even WalMart is laying off people in their corporate office.
scalleywag on February 4, 2010 at 9:07 AM
Was that over the top?
mr1216 on February 4, 2010 at 9:07 AM
Obama and his administration find the sun rising in the West an “unexpected” event. Like geese, they wake up in a new world every morning.
rplat on February 4, 2010 at 9:07 AM
lol
cmsinaz on February 4, 2010 at 9:08 AM
If Phil were making the forecasts, he would have a much better track record than the current crop of so-called experts.
TQM38a on February 4, 2010 at 9:08 AM
those guys are enjoying their new jobs right now. Kevin Jennings is practicing his *fist jobs* on them.
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 9:08 AM
How are they going to spin this month’s numbers?
More porkulus?
The crappy health care bill will save us all?
gophergirl on February 4, 2010 at 9:09 AM
When are these so called expert economists going to realize that decline we had in unemployment in the last quarter was due to the Holiday season traffic. More employers will take on temporary help during the holidays to help restock shelves. Most of these are young adults (high schoolers, college students who need extra cash during the holiday season) Now we are in January these people are not needed so they are let go back onto the unemployment roles. Way to go you bunch of Einsteinian economist. You would make Keynes proud of you.
joe99jpn on February 4, 2010 at 9:09 AM
HotAir Editors,
Can you keep a running total of the use of “unexpectedly” with economic news and AP stories? I think it will show the ridiculousness of the use and will be useful later when Republicans win control of the House this year.
Scranton on February 4, 2010 at 9:10 AM
I heard Stuart Varney talking about that this morning on FOX news.
Brace yourselves. If we lose our AAA rating, interest rates are unexpectedly going to start going up.
UltimateBob on February 4, 2010 at 9:11 AM
I’m shocked, SHOCKED that jacking deficit spending up an order of magnitude and sending the debt to over 100% of GDP in relative peacetime would put the Fed credit rating at risk.
steveegg on February 4, 2010 at 9:11 AM
hahahahahaha. I found my ice scraper on the floor where I left it too! I couldn’t believe it was still there!
scalleywag on February 4, 2010 at 9:11 AM
Indeed that would be an “unexpected” event . . . let’s try setting in the West. My humble apologies for the error.
rplat on February 4, 2010 at 9:11 AM
I repeat my prediction. At best, unemployment tomorrow stays at 10%. At worst, it increases to 10.2%. If it drops to 9.8%, that will be unexpected.
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 9:12 AM
Yes, but did you expect to be *in* New Hampshire when you walked outside? Huh? Huh?
Thanks, btw, that was funny. ;)
Midas on February 4, 2010 at 9:12 AM
Thanks. Now I understand.
petefrt on February 4, 2010 at 9:12 AM
ReWrite™ on Aisle 5 (note, italics is in the original), …
steveegg on February 4, 2010 at 9:13 AM
We are in deeper $hit than I expected when they openly use words like the above. They aren’t even trying to hide the bias anymore.
Johnnyreb on February 4, 2010 at 9:13 AM
with dear leader shouting out proud declarations as well….
cmsinaz on February 4, 2010 at 9:14 AM
I haven’t read the full report, but typically the unemployment numbers are “seasonally adjusted” which means that they took into account the fluctuations due to temporary holiday employment.
UltimateBob on February 4, 2010 at 9:14 AM
I think the only thing that can turn this trend around is to punish banks and businesses more!
/Obama
cntrlfrk on February 4, 2010 at 9:14 AM
why did obarfy just say “corpse-man” instead of “corsman”
blatantblue on February 4, 2010 at 9:14 AM
For a minute I thought this was going to be a thread about Chris Matthews’ leg tingle.
Phew.
Meryl Yourish on February 4, 2010 at 9:14 AM
Hope, change, DemonSheep-induced double-dip depression.
steveegg on February 4, 2010 at 9:16 AM
you bite your tongue and never make me think of that again.
blatantblue on February 4, 2010 at 9:16 AM
Unexpectedly hilarious.
Scott P on February 4, 2010 at 9:16 AM
From The Princess Bride:
I don’t think “unexpected” means what they think it means.
theCork on February 4, 2010 at 9:16 AM
Here’s something fun to do on a slow day. Drive past your local unemployment office and count Obama/Biden bumper stickers.
MikeA on February 4, 2010 at 9:16 AM
I was going to say the same thing! *shudder
ladyingray on February 4, 2010 at 9:17 AM
Dang, this Presidentin’ stuff is hard, who’da thunk?
Alden Pyle on February 4, 2010 at 9:18 AM
You are not the only one that sees this in our future……
Video: Obamageddon in 2012?
posted at 2:55 pm on August 21, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOnrdyY_nXY&feature=player_embedded
I don’t think this is as far fetched as it seems if you look at where we are now compared to just a few years ago.
Baxter Greene on February 4, 2010 at 9:18 AM
We have some really stoopid government “educated” economists these days.
Who didn’t see this coming? The private sector is imploding. Until that changes (and it won’t with the far-left in power) there is going to be no economic recovery.
Dave R. on February 4, 2010 at 9:19 AM
It’s only hard if the person doing the Presidentin’ has incompetent staff in the administration…
…oh, wait.
Never mind.
ladyingray on February 4, 2010 at 9:19 AM
WTH kind of reporting is this?? Economists don’t “hope” things will get better! They predict, based on sound economic models and experience with past recessions. If this rise in unemployment claims was unexpected, that’s because this recession is not behaving the way previous ones have. That in itself is a news story if any of our lazy news organizations would bother reporting it.
Sheesh. As an economist, this kind of reporting makes me crazy.
rockmom on February 4, 2010 at 9:20 AM
“I won’t quit”.
Barack Obama
Key West Reader on February 4, 2010 at 9:20 AM
Who expected this?
Akzed on February 4, 2010 at 9:20 AM
Business is preparing and yet the government yahoos call it unexpected. defies logic but this is getting like Groundhog Day.
But the most stunning Groundhog day thing is that this week, every morning when my alarm unexpectedly goes off the news person is talking about another unexpected murder or body found.
WTF, is crime up?
ORconservative on February 4, 2010 at 9:21 AM
Of all the things McCain was wrong on, this one statement I thought he was correct. He stated, in an interview, that one would expect some “good” news if the government pumped in one trillion dollars.
I mean, come on, after a couple of trillion there had to be some improvement, somewhere, some how…
right2bright on February 4, 2010 at 9:21 AM
Because he’s soooo smart and we’ve been pronouncing it wrong for all of these years.
thomasaur on February 4, 2010 at 9:21 AM
It’s the “jobless recovery” steaming right along.
Saltysam on February 4, 2010 at 9:21 AM
You got to know when to fold them..know when to hold ‘em…know when to walk away..know when to run…
Questions for our Dear Leader:
Yes, things were so much worse than you expected, that is fine. But when are you going to understand exactly how bad things are and fix them?
Second, do you have any proof that you missed the severity of the problem, as opposed to the possibility that the medicine you selected not work as an increasing amount of evidence suggests? And if the only clear evidence is unconvincing (if not negative), why not stop the administration of the remainder of the $800 Billion?
Finally, can you explain your Las Vegas remark by saying that you really meant that people who can’t handle money should stay out of that city? You know like people who put their grandchildren into debt before they understand whether the money they are squandering will accomplish the goal they have in mind? Not to mention any names…
IlikedAUH2O on February 4, 2010 at 9:22 AM
Does this include the over 800,000 jobs they overstated cooking the books for the last year…..
U.S. Job Losses May Be Even Larger, Model Breaks Down (Update1)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601068&sid=aGBkhROUjNds#
By Carlos Torres
Baxter Greene on February 4, 2010 at 9:23 AM
“The answer is not to do nothing.”
Wow, what a stunning, statesmanlike quote….Etch this baby into granite and proudly display it for all to see. Put an eternal flame underneath it and a statue of BHO above it.
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 9:24 AM
Lib economists: “Everybody I talk to says things are getting better and will get better very quickly!”
Reality is a b!tch.
It’s like that t-shirt that says “I reject your reality and substitute my own.”
B Man on February 4, 2010 at 9:24 AM
I made that Kenny Rogers theme the song for this administration with the failing Porkulus and the Vegas peoblem but can’t find it on Utube. I thought it was popular, too. Gotta send it to the Repubs since that kind of thing cheers them up.
IlikedAUH2O on February 4, 2010 at 9:24 AM
I guess Vizzini is the new AP economic expert.
reaganaut on February 4, 2010 at 9:25 AM
They need to increase spending.
And quickly.
/
artist on February 4, 2010 at 9:25 AM
Don’t just stand there. Do something! Anything! Show the people how hard you’re working for them!
BadgerHawk on February 4, 2010 at 9:27 AM
yep, it does. I doubt the BLS would be allowed to issue anything more than a 0.2% increase, no matter what happened with the 800K they forgot to include previously. It’s all a shell game, it’s a giant lie, and we have never been at war with Eastasia.
The Ministry of Plenty will ensure that there are plenty of jobs. Next months prediction will assuredly be that there are now more jobs than there are workers to fill them.
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 9:27 AM
On Fox News someone posted this comment:
So this is going to be the Obamacrats election strategy. The tax-funded propagandists at ACORN/SEIU/Obama Jugend are starting to push fullblown communism.
modifiedcontent on February 4, 2010 at 9:28 AM
Congress is taking the “Don’t just do something, Stand there” approach to obama for the next 10 mos. All else is simply a tourniquet and dick dance for our congress, our economy and our presidency to circle the drain.
ted c on February 4, 2010 at 9:28 AM
Some guy was on CNBC a few months ago and he said this would be the “mother of all jobless recoveries.”
They had a guy on that channel who knew what was going on and they basically told him to shut up.
Didn’t know what he was talking about, etc.
It really is an ostrich mentality. Meanwhile, they have those smug looks on their faces like they’re geniuses and we’re total morons.
Keep it up you idiots, November is gonna be fun.
B Man on February 4, 2010 at 9:29 AM
Uh…..Obama has already addressed that:
At a small business in Chesapeake, Maryland President Obama today said that the 5.7% jump in GDP last quarter “affirms” the progress in the economy.
Obama,Jan 30,2010
…..Newsweek told us the “recession was over!!!”
Think God the “adults” are in charge…
Baxter Greene on February 4, 2010 at 9:29 AM
Wait til medicare crashes. It’s so far in the hole and will never see the light of day. Another govmint promise up in smoke. It should be converted to a private insurance policy. We could combine it with or expand the supplement people have to buy anyway just to have enough coverage. Get the govmint out of the health care business.
Kissmygrits on February 4, 2010 at 9:31 AM
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