corrente

The Times via AP here:

The civilian unemployment rate improved marginally last month -- sliding down to 6.1 percent -- as companies slashed payrolls by 93,000. Friday's report sent mixed signals about the nation's overall economic health.

August was the seventh consecutive month of cuts in payrolls, a survey released by the Labor Department showed, indicating continuing weakness in the job market. But the overall seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 6.2 to 6.1 percent of the labor force, as reflected by a broader survey of U.S. households.

"But" these household numbers aren't as reliable as the payroll numbers.

Labor Department analysts believe the survey of businesses provides a more reliable picture of the jobs market than the household survey. The payroll report is based on a larger sample and estimates ``are regularly anchored to'' counts derived from employment insurance tax records, said Kathleen P. Utgoff, Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner.

And now the balance paragraph. I love this part.

Recent data indicate an improving economy, yet favorable conditions have yet to trickle down to the jobs market. Businesses still are cautious about hiring and adding new positions, the major factor holding back the economy.

But business isn't being "cautious"—the rest of the story shows that. Business is laying people off and making the survivors work harder. What's "cautious" about that?

I'm going to pay my phone bill now—I'll just write "favorable conditions have trickled down" in the payment box. (Trickled down from where, one asks?)

If this is a recovery, where are the jobs?