Boy, I'm shocked! Shocked I say! How is the economy not improving when we've enacted historically, provabily unworkable Keynesian economic stimulus policies combined with massive new regulation of private health and financial industries combined with government takeover and redistribution of the auto industry in direct violation of shareholders and bondholders private property rights combined with executive level bullying and indirect banning of private oil industry combined with the looming threat of the largest tax increase in US history?

I can definitely see why new unemployment claims are "unexpected" and a "surprise".
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Jobless-claims-rise-to-apf-896075528.html?x=0&.v=2

I cannot for the life of me understand is why manufacturing is down?
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9HMLEIG1.htm

The real surprise is that the CBO is finally catching up : The economy faces even more difficult times ahead with chronic unemployment and slow manufacturing hurting the recovery, the head of Congress' budget agency said on Thursday.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/2010-budget-deficit-at-1342-rb-1122983085.html?x=0&.v=1

Really? You don't say.

The good news is that mortgage rates are at record lows. I'm personally thrilled by this. ;)
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Mortgage-rates-hit-record-rb-607449607.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=

Tick...