The "core inflation" number... is there any more worthless stat?

[Rex_Goodheart]

WTF do I care about a "core inflation" number when I actually HAVE TO PAY higher energy and food prices?

[mac2]

1. Core inflation is a fudge number so make the economy

looks better than it really is. It is hard on fixed incomes and families struggling to stay together.

[kenny blankenship]

2. The unemployment stat.

Maybe it's not more worthless, just equally worthless; but since reliable figures are hard to come by, who's to say?

[mac2]

3. I tried to explain to someone how the unemployment stats

only includes those workers who are not working but collect unemployment benefits. Many part time, seasonal, etc. workers aren't included since they don't get this benefit. They don't count the number who ran out of unemployment benefits but are still jobless or in low wage jobs.

I heard a Congressman a few years ago on the Banking Committee say that in his area of PA the "real unemployment" numbers were more like 10%.

Today they act like you should have a good job with benefits, etc. when workers are on the edge of losing it all.

[mainegreen]

4. Shadow Gov'ts more reliable rate of inflation, calculated under the old, real model:

Much higher.