KR: Forget Goldilocks, U.S. economy feels more like Jekyll and Hyde

[Pirate Smile]

Forget Goldilocks, U.S. economy feels more like Jekyll and Hyde
By Kevin G. Hall

Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - For much of last year, Wall Street analysts referred to America as having a Goldilocks economy, one that wasn't too hot or too cold. Now into its fourth year of expansion, the U.S. economy might better be described as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

In any given week, conflicting economic reports emerge that seem to either prove or disprove that inflation threatens, that interest rates must rise or fall or that the nation's hot housing market is safely cooling or on the verge of collapse.

-snip-
There are no easy answers. Part of what's fueling the conflicting indicators is that the economy is well into its current expansion, which makes it hard to tell if the country is in the middle or toward the end of the growth.

-snip-
Still, dueling indicators suggest that the U.S. economy has a split personality worthy of the Jekyll-and-Hyde character in the classic Robert Louis Stevenson tale.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/14389989.htm