Euro-zone industrial production posts record rise Rises 1.7% in January, December production revised higher

A record monthly increase in industrial output across the euro zone in January supports sustainability of economic recovery in the region, but doesn't completely dispel concerns.


http://bit.ly/d9zCuX

U.S. Labor Market Continues To Score Gains In February

It's hard to tell when the economy turns, either for the good or for the bad, because the data needs to show a trend over time. We often don't know if we're in a recession or out of one until months after the fact. It's being reported now that this recession ended in the the third quarter of 2009.  But when will the jobless recovery end, and hiring begin in earnest?

Here's an article that suggests we are starting to see improvement in the job market.  

http://bit.ly/9TWPim

It's counterintuitive, but the employment rate needs to get worse before we can start to say things are actually getting better. Those who gave up looking for a job, and who were therefore no longer counted as being in the labor market, need to see enough hope in the local economy to start their job search anew.

Anecdotally, friends and family who are searching for work are reporting more positions posted, and they are getting more face-to-face interviews. Lets hope that the trend continues.

World equities up 73 percent a year after crisis low

"Equities have had a volatile 2010 so far, but globally they remain around 73 percent higher than the low ebb of the financial crisis exactly 12 months ago."

Let's hope this is just another sign of better things to come...

http://bit.ly/bUwMCO

Oil touches 8-week high over $82 on optimism

http://bit.ly/bslP0a


Is the economy improving? Are we out of the Great Recession already, and just don't realize it yet?