Check it out:
Oh, first an appetizer for you...
"The national average price of a gallon of regular gas rose 0.7 cent overnight to a record of $3.944, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. Gas prices are likely to keep rising...."
How you doing, America? You choke that down?
O.K., here's a bigger piece to swallow:
"Durables show strength in April; Orders for autos, aircraft slip, but other sectors gain" by Associated Press | May 29, 2008
WASHINGTON - Orders to US factories for big-ticket items besides autos and airplanes showed surprising strength in April, raising hopes that manufacturing can help the economy shake off the slumping housing market and credit crisis.
I see a light!!
Overall, orders for durable goods slid 0.5 percent in April, reflecting steep declines in commercial aircraft and autos, the Commerce Department reported yesterday. See how it works?
Yup, the economy is showing signs of strength -- even as it STILL CONTINUES to CONTRACT!!!!
Nothing like wrapping shit in bacon for the American people.
Of course, notice how they report the flip side on corporate profits?
They always put some big percentage drop behind corporate profits -- as if they LOST MONEY!!
Then you read the article and they still MADE PROFIT!!
Nice shell game you business shills got going.
The decline, however, was just one-third of what specialists expected.
Yeah, it wasn't as bad as we thought, so it is ALL GOOD!!!
Pffffffttt!
Hey, the water coming into the boat has slowed, so we all better now!!!
Pfffffttt!
Take out the volatile transportation sector and orders rose 2.5 percent, the largest gain in nine months.
What's that saying: Figures lie and liars figure?
This reflected strength in areas ranging from heavy machinery and primary metals such as steel, and to a record surge in demand for electrical equipment and appliances.
Yeah, except that is NOT HERE!!!
Economists said this indicated the economy was entering the April-through-June period with some momentum in manufacturing, a sector critical to helping keep the country out of recession....
AmeriKa stills makes stuff? Hasn't all been off-shored yet?
Many economists have worried the economy could slip into a full-fledged downturn because of housing woes, credit tightening, and soaring gasoline prices that have sent consumer confidence plunging. The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its confidence index fell in May to the lowest reading in nearly 16 years.
Translation: Americans are no longer buying the bullshit!!!
Despite all the problems, overall growth has managed to stay in positive territory so far....
Playing with #s again, are they?
Analysts said manufacturing is benefiting from a strong export demand. US manufacturers are getting a boost from the weaker dollar, which makes their products cheaper on overseas markets, and by the fact that businesses did not go on an investment spending binge before the current slowdown.
None of which is helping you and me, readers!
Still, economists said it would be premature to say the country has managed to avoid a recession based on one month's data on durable goods. They are watching to see how consumer spending fared in April. That report comes out tomorrow; consumer activity accounts for two-thirds of the economy...."
But that won't stop the MSM from implying it!!
Yup, just spoonfuls of shit for the American public, huh, MSM?
So GET READY, America, because the SHIT is about to STREAM!!!!
Better start stocking up on diapers and detergent.
Consumers hit hard in recent months by sharply higher prices for gasoline and food should prepare to start paying more for various household items following Dow Chemical Co.'s decision to raise its prices by up to 20 percent to offset the soaring cost of energy.
That's right, Americans -- pull down those pants!
Here come the price hikes right up the old poop chute!
The company, which disclosed the price increases yesterday, took the unusual step of directing blame at the nation's energy policy makers.
"For years, Washington has failed to address the issue of rising energy costs and, as a result, the country now faces a true energy crisis, one that is causing serious harm to America's manufacturing sector and all consumers of energy," Andrew Liveris, Dow Chemical's chairman and chief executive, said in a statement.
Yeah, like you guys had nothing to do with it!!!!
Hey, it's the BUSH ECONOMIC LEGACY!!
Dow Chemical's spiraling costs are "forcing difficult discussions with customers," he said.
Translation: Customers are ANGRY!!!!
The Midland, Mich., company supplies a broad swath of industries, from agriculture to healthcare, and any sizable price jumps would likely affect almost all of them.
The price increases will take effect Sunday and will be based on a product's exposure to rising costs. Dow Chemical said it spent $8 billion on energy and hydrocarbon-based feedstock, or raw materials, back in 2002 and that could climb fourfold to $32 billion this year.
Forgive me if the tears don't start flowing for ol' Dow here (unless I'm smelling some of their poisons, because my eyes are watering).
Dow Chemical makes everything from the propylene glycols used in antifreeze, coolants, solvents, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, to acrylic acid-based products used in detergents, wastewater treatment, and disposable diapers.
It makes key ingredients used in paints, textiles, glass, packaging, and cars.
Translation: They have their corroded mitts in just about everything!
The company, whose products are sold in 160 countries, last month reported a 3 percent drop in quarterly earnings amid a 42 percent jump in energy and raw materials costs.
Its profit margins shrank from 9.8 percent in 2005 to 7.6 percent in 2006, and to 5.4 percent last year. During the 12-month period that ended March 31, the margin narrowed to 5.1 percent, according to Capital IQ.
See what I mean about the funky way they do profits and percentages?
But Dow STILL MADE $$$$, right?
I mean, I'm doing nothing but falling behind!
Price increases from major suppliers significantly affect the cost of manufacturing, said Angie Chaplin, a spokeswoman for Solo Cup Co. The Highland Park, Ill. company is a customer of Dow Chemical.
Companies and entire industries are looking for ways to share increases in the cost of doing business, said Mark Stephenson, a spokesman for chemical giant BASF Corp. in Florham Park, N.J.
"Hey there, CONSUMER!!!" -- industries looking to "share costs."
"For us, BASF, we don't consider prices across the board, like you saw with Dow," Stephenson said. "Rather, we look at the necessity for increases on a product-by-product basis."
He said BASF had raised its prices for "a handful of products" during the past three months, but he did not know how many products had gone up in the year. Another rival, Rohm and Haas Co., said April 29 that, beginning this month, it will apply an indexed raw materials and energy surcharge to products made by its Specialty Materials businesses."Yes, American, bend and spread, bend and spread!