How about ask the company's where the jobs are created who gets the credit . then you get a the real answer. Problem is media doesn't want to hear what the company's answer is .
20
The employment numbers NOT all that great under Obama and interestingly real progress is (hopefully ) being made when a pro business administration.
Obama was so anti business no wonder the climate has improved with him gone.
Obama was so anti business no wonder the climate has improved with him gone.
13
What's sad isn't so much the fact that Trumpty Dumpty, the Olympic gold medalist in narcissism, is predictably taking credit for Obama's jobs numbers. No, what's sad is that, due to absolute Republican intransigence with respect to everything Obama tried to do to get the economy going, the economic recovery took twice as long as it should have if the Republicans had payed the slightest attention to Keynesian economic theory and boosted government spending during the Great Recession (as Obama wanted to do).
In any case, once investors finally open their eyes to the fact that Trump isn't going to be spending $1 trillion on infrastructure improvements any time soon, the stock market is going to tank big time, and when that happens, jobs are going to disappear.
In any case, once investors finally open their eyes to the fact that Trump isn't going to be spending $1 trillion on infrastructure improvements any time soon, the stock market is going to tank big time, and when that happens, jobs are going to disappear.
36
What a jerk. He's riding on the tails of Obama and everyone knows it. The gall of the Republicans is astonishing. Hopefully, we'll find out trump cheated with the Russians to win the election. He'll then be gone.
55
The markets and corporate America - that does most of the hiring in the U.S. - have been smiling for more than a year in anticipation that either Trump or Clinton would be in the White House come Jan. 2017. Clearly, both the markets and business thought anything other than Obama was a plus.
10
it started turning around from the moment he won, he was around negotiating with major companies before he even took office. companies stopped shipping jobs overseas and scrapped plans to build overseas. of course it looks good now. just the overall sense that things are going to get better for business is enough to change business plans. obamas numbers were all bull, unemployment went down because people stopped looking for jobs altogether. of course the numbers look better, people are actually getting jobs instead of stopping looking.
Obama was trying to destroy what made this country a great place to live, thank god hes gone.
Obama was trying to destroy what made this country a great place to live, thank god hes gone.
15
All Presidents do the same thing. They take credit if the economy is good and blame others if its bad. President Obama blamed Bush for the bad economy for years.
8
With the current White House administration, I really feel that Trump's people are enacting the story from the book, Animal Farm, changing facts or "alternative facts" into whatever they see fit. It is very entertaining but unfortunately it is happening in the real world!!
26
We might want to take a look at the hiring process across the full spectrum of employers in the country; not just the large ones with "exuberant" CEO buddies of Trump. It has taken 8 years to reassemble something akin to a recovered economy. Trying to assign a one month hiring number to Trump is a major stretch of imagination for everyone but POTUS himself.
26
What happened to that 42% unemployment rate #45 was talking about a month ago..?
35
I don't remember NYT shooting down Obama when he took credit for low gas prices, which he had zero to do with.
10
So this article said that the increase is more than anticipated but then it said it is on course for the previous trend. Which is it? I think that when our president says he is fighting for our jobs and money it promotes and motivates people to work. Why would we take good info like this and put a negative spin on it?
4
Well, the state of the economy for the past 7.9 years was attributed to George Bush so I suppose this report is also the result of his policies.
8
There really isn't anything for Trump to take credit for, since the jobs report numbers aren't accurate. At least that's what Trump said when good job reports while Obama was president.
44
Yes...... If he is willing to embrace responsibility for the next down turn!
8
NO!!
But then again he takes credit for anything everything that might make he look better.
NO, the results are not as a direct result of him taking over less than 3 months ago.
How silly to even think he is doing anything good!
But then again he takes credit for anything everything that might make he look better.
NO, the results are not as a direct result of him taking over less than 3 months ago.
How silly to even think he is doing anything good!
7
No way! But he'll take the credit. That's how he is. Someone does the work, and steals the glory. You know it's going to be someone else's fault when the economy falters. He never does anything wrong.
13
This is still Obama's economy. Just like the months in the first year of Obama's terms that we had job losses in the hundreds of thousands. That was Bush's economy.
Why do you print such a ridiculous headline? Click bait? Sheesh!!!
Why do you print such a ridiculous headline? Click bait? Sheesh!!!
20
Weren't these the same sort of job numbers Trump was assailing when Obama was President and Trump was running against Hillary? This sort of political nonsense continues to nauseate the electorate and was actually responsible for the ascendance of Trump and Sanders in the 2016 election where people were looking to get away from political hacks like Hillary and Rubio. This is why Trump is being seen by the American pubic as less and less of a game changer and more and more as just more of the same.
5
Take it in perspective; if we lost jobs in February, Drudge and Trump would have blamed Obama, especially since nothing bad that happens is ever Trump's fault.
14
Emphatically NEVER! Trumpet NEVER a president! Not now, not ever. Stolen election. This jobs report is all because of a REAL President and good person President Obama and his eight years of hard work despite the racist obstruction from the fascist Republican'ts and the corporations.
Should've voted for President Hillary Clinton and the Dems instead.
Just another reason they, the Republican'ts and Trumpet, must be gone this weekend before any more damage done to this nation, this earth, Democracy. Arrest and jail all Republican'ts this weekend. Leave none. Will save this nation, this earth, Democracy.
Should've voted for President Hillary Clinton and the Dems instead.
Just another reason they, the Republican'ts and Trumpet, must be gone this weekend before any more damage done to this nation, this earth, Democracy. Arrest and jail all Republican'ts this weekend. Leave none. Will save this nation, this earth, Democracy.
7
He obviously deserves credit for it. Get over it. The stock market has been up since he was elected. Would not have happened under Hillary. He has cut deals with numerous employers to avoid offshore jobs. This causes others to follow suit. This article and the smashers on this board were going to smash Trump anyway because they are still reeling from losing the election. Just a hissy fit.
3
The grey lady (old term for the times) goes on
meanwhile, twitter captures it perfectly
https://twitter.com/BraddJaffy/status/840204070094831621
meanwhile, twitter captures it perfectly
https://twitter.com/BraddJaffy/status/840204070094831621
4
I would say Trump should certainly get credit for not destroying President Obama's job growth trends. He should NOT get credit for "improving the mess he inherited", since these numbers are no better or worse than what Obama has presided over for about 6-7 years.
23
During Trump's campaign he stated that real unemployment was 28 to 40 percent. Now it is only 4.7 percent thanks to him? This guy works miracles every day. When unemployment starts to tick up under his term I am sure it will be greeted as fake news.
32
Of course not. This is a continuation of the recovery built by President Obama that will be wrecked in the next year by Trump and the Republicans and all the more so if they pass their remarkably stupid tax cuts.
14
Thought these were all "fake numbers" Donald...made up government lies! Now that they are technically - sort of at least according to the calendar - Donald's numbers, they are as good as gold. Funny how the unemployment rate went from ...what? 45% down to 4.7% in the first three weeks of his presidency. And here President Obama had us believing the U.S. economy is an ocean liner, not a speed boat - it takes awhile to get it turned around, but The Donald did it in 21 days! Wow!
21
These good job numbers are a direct indication of the mess that Trump inherited. Let's wait for the 'great again' stuff until his policies actually hit us. I wonder how he will feel about owning the situation when 15-20 million folks lose their medical coverage.
13
The number is good, but since President Trump promised to add an ADDITIONAL 25,000,000 jobs, above the current average, over a decade, that's about 200,000 more a month. Average.
So in two months he's already down by 250,000.
So in two months he's already down by 250,000.
14
You mean like the last president getting credit for the Mid-East wars? Or the deep recession of 2009?
3
No! Not in any way. This question should be asked of those employers who hired those people.
1
Let's see, the Trump campaign called the 242,000 jobs gained in Feb 2016 "a disaster".
But the 235,000 jobs gained in 2017 will make America great again.
Math seems to be a stumbling block.
But the 235,000 jobs gained in 2017 will make America great again.
Math seems to be a stumbling block.
16
"It’s entirely plausible that Mr. Trump’s election in November and the ensuing market rally made business leaders a bit more inclined to move forward with hiring plans in January and February."
How had was that to write? Of course the Trump effect is spurring the stock market, jobs, and all the positive talk from CEO's and other business leaders. Is it really that tough to give credit where credit is due?
How had was that to write? Of course the Trump effect is spurring the stock market, jobs, and all the positive talk from CEO's and other business leaders. Is it really that tough to give credit where credit is due?
2
of course the fake president is responsible for a thriving economy after just 3 - 5 weeks! he's white, the other guy...he wasn't. he gets the Benefit Of The Doubt--the special privilege of all white men. the other guy...he doesn't. he isn't to blame for the failed operation in yemen, even though the order was okay'd in between his order for an entree and dessert. somehow, that was the other guy. logic, who needs logic? certainly not supporters of the fake president.
14
There is no reality in which Trump will not claim a hero's share of any good news, and blame Obama and Democrats for any bad news.
8
Sure, give him credit. He'll take it any way. That'll just make the inevitable downturn that his policies are hastening and deepening stick to him all the harder. It'll be absurd for him to blame the February 2017 uptick on himself and the July 2017 doldrums on Obama. But then, absurd is his modus operandi.
4
Candidate Trump calls the unemployment rates fake, rigged - President Trump can't even follow President Reagan's rules before tweeting about them. No, he does not deserve the credit for these numbers.
4
Personally I've hired ten people this month in hopes of completing my bunker as fast as possible before the nuclear apocalypse later this year.
19
No, Trump shouldn't get credit, just as Obama doesn't deserve any blame for the terrible economy he inherited. Neither of them did anything at this point in their presidency that had any material effect on the economy.
5
Yeah, yeah. Ambiguous. No, nothing he did. Look at last February.
1
Others have mentioned optimism as a potential reason for more hiring, and perhaps for some it is easier to be optimistic when you don't have Congressional leaders bad-mouthing the president and economy, as has been the case for the last several years under President Obama. This chump in office now did not inherit a "mess" or a "disaster." Despite a penurious stimulus package, there has been a slow but steady recovery for years, but we'll have to see if the Orange Blunder can keep it going once his honeymoon is over and he and his band of thieves have blown up the deficit.
5
Just ask the question; would Trump accept responsibility if we were losing jobs? No, so he cant take the credit for what is clearly a continuation of 8 years of solid growth.
9
Well, I've listened to Obama supporters for years claim he ended the war in Iraq and pulled out the troops.
1
Trump is doing his best to destroy the American economy. The good jobs numbers have absolutely nothing to do with him. he is a total disaster.
6
I think it is sort of funny that when the predictions for job growth were much lower the MSM was saying if the job growth was low Trump must own those numbers. Now that the hob growth numbers are over 225% higher then expected the MSM is saying Trump had nothing to do with it. Sort of like blaming Bush for bad economics after 4 years of Obama.
1
Should Trump get credit for picking a multimillionaire 2nd generation German American real estate baron father?
America is not a tiny closely-held inherited private family business. The White House is not a private media casino hotel resort. The military-industrial complex is America's biggest employer.
America is not a tiny closely-held inherited private family business. The White House is not a private media casino hotel resort. The military-industrial complex is America's biggest employer.
4
He's going to grab the credit so I wouldn't waste time debating it.
The real test will be the extent to which people in the rust belt, coal country and farm country get work.
The real test will be the extent to which people in the rust belt, coal country and farm country get work.
7
Trump should get credit for only the negative things that occur because those are as a result of his "policies". Any positives from his reign are inadvertent or accidental.
4
Come on, Upshot, you're better than this.
In a world where reality is under attack and the President ran on a strategy of lying about the current state of the economy, it is important to get this message across: nothing has changed.
No partisan position has ammunition in this report. There is no significant change that I can see from trend. Trump hasn't screwed anything up yet, nor has he made anything greater yet.
I read TheUpshot because you guys typically have pretty good analysis. How about a tutorial on stastical significance, rather than reacting to Drudge?
In a world where reality is under attack and the President ran on a strategy of lying about the current state of the economy, it is important to get this message across: nothing has changed.
No partisan position has ammunition in this report. There is no significant change that I can see from trend. Trump hasn't screwed anything up yet, nor has he made anything greater yet.
I read TheUpshot because you guys typically have pretty good analysis. How about a tutorial on stastical significance, rather than reacting to Drudge?
3
Jamie Dimon. There's a credible source. Nice that affections have switched so quickly for "Obama's favorite banker." The reliance on his opinion should answer this question, the answering being: "Not so much."
2
Wait! I thought His Orangeness said "I inherited a mess"? So now he's accepting credit for the continuing improvement of the economy under his hated predecessor that's now bleeding into his disastrous turn as POTUS?
3
Im sure if Clinton had won this article would be about how all the job gains are the result of her god-like perfection. I cant trust any news anymore, every news site is biases one way or the other. There is no more truth, just opinion.
1
Not even worthy of a news story. There is a lag time in reporting both hiring and firings and you have to look at seasonal trends...( such as tax prep season for example...for starters.)
1
No.
3
No.
3
But will Mr. Trump agree with the numbers, and congratulate himself, despite another "fake media" report by the failing NYTimes? Or will he give thanks to the previous administration for the momentum passed onto him, and announce his intention to respectfully keep it going?
5
No
3
Thanks Obama!
4
Check the report after his trickle down voo doo gets passed by the zombie Republicans in Congress.
Say, two years from now…February 2018.
Just in time to sweep them all out of office.
Say, two years from now…February 2018.
Just in time to sweep them all out of office.
1
I am no economic forecaster, but it occurs to me on a daily basis-- as I watch Trump dismantle the institutions,the legislation and the traditions that have kept this country great for many years--that I should get my money out of the market now and stuff it under my mattress. And how about all the jobs that will be lost as he foolishly refuses to fill important positions in places like the State Department, or the EPA? The impact of Trump's policies hasn't even begun to be felt...so it would be wise not to self-congratulate yet. But he's the narcissist in chief, so....
5
Trump gets credit for nothing but making America the laughing stock of the world!
8
Rule 16: Trump will take credit for anything good, even if he had nothing to with it. If it's any bad news, it's alway someone else's fault.
Rule 17: Don't let them call it TrumpCare
Rule 17: Don't let them call it TrumpCare
2
Lol. What a question. The same way he has credit for the daffodils starting to flowering in the parks.
3
No because he believes the BLS is corrupt and distorting the numbers.
3
While I'm sure that many jobs added since November were because of employer confidence in the promise of crazy conservative policies, they cannot take credit for the overall positive trend coming into this year. That is all Obama.
2
No, he should not take credit.
In the months to come he will not be able to put together an economic policy -- let alone a coherent economic policy -- to sustain the growth. That, combined with a probable hike in interest rates, will stall the economy, which will in turn make Wall Street nervous....which could bring things to a grinding halt.
But of course, Trump will take his victory lap, knowing that when things do go south there's a ready-made scapegoat waiting in the wings: Barack Obama and the Democrats. As per usual.
In the months to come he will not be able to put together an economic policy -- let alone a coherent economic policy -- to sustain the growth. That, combined with a probable hike in interest rates, will stall the economy, which will in turn make Wall Street nervous....which could bring things to a grinding halt.
But of course, Trump will take his victory lap, knowing that when things do go south there's a ready-made scapegoat waiting in the wings: Barack Obama and the Democrats. As per usual.
2
Maybe 5% of the improvement is due to Trump's deregulation.
BUT we need to thank the person responsible: Thank you Barack Obama!
BUT we need to thank the person responsible: Thank you Barack Obama!
3
And should the numbers go down again, that will no doubt be Obama's fault.
4
What a huge difference between the economy that Obama had inherited and the one that Trump has inherited!
6
I have no problem with his false claim of job creation, as long as he takes credit for the economy tanking, job loss, health care implosion, environmental disasters, rise in crime, war, Russian interference and any other number of pitfalls that are coming our way thanks to his ill conceived policies. But we all know that won't happen because it's obviously someone else's fault!
2
We've always been forward looking; witness the "bets" in the stock market. By that measure, everything north of the second week of November '16 is Trump's fault.
When they start talking about "animal spirits", I get a little skeptical...
All of a sudden, Trump loves the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which he belittled as "fake" and "dishonest" throughout the campaign.
5
This month 0.1 tells nothing. But yes more jobs will be created building the wall, protecting boarder, maybe the promised Infrastructure. BUT salary will go down. This happend germany 1933-1934 too, hitler promised the same work for all, made it with programs e. G. building streets. But all economs foresean at the beginning economy growth but later craches, in countries who close their doors. Actually i see not any added value, no innovative new products which can be sold so economy grows. A little bit by not taking care to nature (co2) gives advantage over tgous countries caring nature. Stopping import will make american cars even worse cause less competition.
1
I recall candidate Trump talking about how these same job numbers were fake under Obama. But a good economic report appears well before his policies could have an impact, and NOW they're credible?
2
What aspect of Trump's first budget which, has not been sent to Congress, has not been debated and voted on, and wont take effect until October of 2017 is created the job growth in February of 2017?
We are under Obama's budget until the last day of September 2017. Trump gets no credit till then.
We are under Obama's budget until the last day of September 2017. Trump gets no credit till then.
3
No, just as Obama was not to blame for the economic debacle of the first few months of his presidency.
2
C'mon, Neil. Really? The Confidence Fairy?
1
The other factor to consider in looking at this data and the markets generally is the certainty of no additional taxes or regulation as a result of the Clinton defeat...
1
Fox News would say "Obama created "only" 325,000 jobs this month." So a mere 235,000 should make the conservative talking heads very disappointed. Yet somehow I doubt it. Remember Trumpie has said the number of people looking for work is 94 million and the "real" unemployment rate is like 40% or higher. Do you think he can drop it to 35%?. Of course this would include my 88 year old Mother. Not sure how many openings for someone who is hard of hearing, has arthritis, and uses a walker to get around. So since he has proclaimed to be "the greatest job creator God ever made', 235,000 jobs is nothing.
2
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Nothing Trump proposes is new. What is worrisome is that his economic, foreign, and domestic policies are about 30 years out of date. We are in very serious trouble.
2
I'm sure that Trump will find a way to blame Obama the next time we get bad jobs numbers.
3
Short answer, NO.
2
Academics don't give credit until a year has passed. Please refer to Princeton's Larry Bartels in his important book "Unequal Democracy." Presidents can start taking credit a year in and that credit extends until a year after they're gone.
It's entirely likely that the current occupant of the White House will continue to take credit for things that resulted from eight hard years of solid leadership from Barack Obama.
Tearing down the EPA might help some companies thrive as they exploit and damage the countryside.
The Orange Raccoon of the White House Is a blowhard who is damaging the country try. PERIOD.
Tearing down the EPA might help some companies thrive as they exploit and damage the countryside.
The Orange Raccoon of the White House Is a blowhard who is damaging the country try. PERIOD.
4
The degree to which Donald Trump has a hand in the uptick in hiring is open to debate. I find him to be a driving force. One thing is certain, however: Barack Obama can take zero credit for it. Thankfully, the economy is improving. At the same time, we need to have a REALISTIC understanding of where Unemployment stands. "4.7%" is highly misleading. Unemployment is measured by 6 sets of criteria, named U-1 through U-6. Historically, "U-3" - which counts as "Unemployed" ONLY people actively receiving benefits - has been an accurate indicator of Real Unemployment. Typically, a Recession runs 18 months or less - so, only a small number of people will exhaust their Unemployment Benefits before landing a job.
However, during the Age of Obama - the majority of Unemployed Americans did NOT find a good job before exhausting their benefits. So, while they were obviously still unemployed, they were dropped from the U-3 count. Others not included under U-3 are the self-employed, small business owners, the under-employed, temp workers, and contractors. If you mow a neighbor's lawn - and report it (as required by law) you are removed from U-3, making it APPEAR you've found a job. As people exhaust their benefits - they, too, are dropped from U-3, artificially bringing U.S. Unemployment figures down. In a long-term Recession, "U-6" - which includes ALL unemployed adults - is the more-accurate rating. And under U-6, unemployment in America is STILL stuck in Double-Digits
However, during the Age of Obama - the majority of Unemployed Americans did NOT find a good job before exhausting their benefits. So, while they were obviously still unemployed, they were dropped from the U-3 count. Others not included under U-3 are the self-employed, small business owners, the under-employed, temp workers, and contractors. If you mow a neighbor's lawn - and report it (as required by law) you are removed from U-3, making it APPEAR you've found a job. As people exhaust their benefits - they, too, are dropped from U-3, artificially bringing U.S. Unemployment figures down. In a long-term Recession, "U-6" - which includes ALL unemployed adults - is the more-accurate rating. And under U-6, unemployment in America is STILL stuck in Double-Digits
So, as Dimon says, they were sitting on their hands because they didn't like Black Obama or diverse Democrats and now that they have a so called "White" Guy, even if they think he's a jerk, then they will do that hiring they could have done all along. All that clanthink anti-intellectualism and anti-science, makes one almost long for Karl Marx.
"Marx believed that the extension of the labor theory of value indicated capitalists would exploit workers by depriving them of value that workers themselves create." (under the rubric of "What the market will bear.")
"According to Marx, surplus value [profit] is the difference between the value that the worker has created and the wage that the worker receives from his/her employer." Wikipedia. "History of Capitalist Theory."
"Marx believed that the extension of the labor theory of value indicated capitalists would exploit workers by depriving them of value that workers themselves create." (under the rubric of "What the market will bear.")
"According to Marx, surplus value [profit] is the difference between the value that the worker has created and the wage that the worker receives from his/her employer." Wikipedia. "History of Capitalist Theory."
1
Former President Obama's administration should receive credit for the great jobs number but of course all the racist Trump supporters and the Trump administration would never consider such a recognition.
2
My answer is "NO". He's still riding on President Obama's sound approach regarding the economy. The only thing for which he should take credit is the 'dis' ease he has caused with his erratic and dishonest outbursts and regressive edicts.
2
It takes about 6 months for activity at the Federal level to affect the economy as a whole. And considering all Trump has done is sign executive order and has not put forth a budget, let alone pass one , any performance has to hearken back to Obama.
2
This is the mess he inherited from President Obama. Wish I can inherit a mess too.
13
This is just so exhausting. NOT looking forward to the week end RANTS from mar e lago.
7
no credit for anything.
only blame.
only blame.
5
This is the Trump narcissistic modus operandi. Take credit for all the good news you had nothing to do with, and blame others for all the bad news you're responsible for.
14
No--He is only been in office a few months.
6
Trump can take credit for all the new coal miners' jobs.
10
No.
4
Hail the new "president" magician Donald Trump! He can create millions of jobs in the blink of an eye!
3
No need need to think about this one. Just enter your preconceived notion. Everyone's minds are already made up.
3
Can someone go back and see the reaction from the Drudge Report the last time the economy created 235k jobs? LOL
7
Of course not. Obama never got credit for good job numbers, so why should Trump?
Oh wait.
Oh wait.
6
as if he won't claim it anyway ... too bad, the Fed will raise rates (and some more later on) and that means i probably won't be able to buy a house. that sucks ...
2
obama had 75 straight months of job growth. i don't remember the GOP giving him any credit for that.
11
You will all tire of opining as though what is happening to us is some abstract game without real consequences. You'll see soon enough if Trump knows a thing about economics! That you waste an entire column writing nonsense makes me want to vomit in your lap as an explication of Trump's policies.
Barely in office for two months, unable to do little more than tweet and insult -- and now, willing to take all the credit for good job numbers....This isn't even the end of the first quarter.
Is there no end to the normalization process???
Is there no end to the normalization process???
3
235000 jobs added? What type of jobs and wages? UHaul announced they were looking to hire 60 people in early February. The wage range according to experience was $13-19 dollars. Who in Southern California can live on that? When are these "optimistic" companies going to raise wages?
3
People who have expenses (healthcare, mortgage, utilities, groceries, gas, student loans, etc) NEED to work. The jobs they have pay them, and they in turn,pay their expenses. People who have more money than they could possibly spend in their lives don't need to work. All they do is play. Trump, thusly, has never worked. Everything he does is a game. When he pretends that he is responsible for creating jobs it cheapens the hard work that the rest of us do every day.
2
We need even better numbers, consistently.
Bureau of labor statistics conducts its interviews before the 13th of the month named in the report. The data taken for this report deals with the period between (for this report) January 14th and February 12th so some of the data reflects the final week of the Obama administration. Next month's report will be the first full report of exclusive data from 45.
4
A better headline might be, "Trump reaps benefits of Obama policies" given the reality of economic growth patterns since 2015 and the absence of real policy action by the Trump administration in the scant 7 weeks of its existence.
13
Thanks Obama!
(In case there's any doubt, that's said with the same tone that our 44th president employed on the stump last year when listing his administration's many successes, including saving us from the Great Recession, which he inherited. Despite their insistent denials, the current White House occupants inherited a stable economy. Let's hope they can keep it going in the right direction and not mangle it as they have done with so many things already.)
(In case there's any doubt, that's said with the same tone that our 44th president employed on the stump last year when listing his administration's many successes, including saving us from the Great Recession, which he inherited. Despite their insistent denials, the current White House occupants inherited a stable economy. Let's hope they can keep it going in the right direction and not mangle it as they have done with so many things already.)
9
Clown
Mr Trump deserves the same amount of credit for the solid jobs numbers he inherited in the second month of his presidency as the amount of blame President Obama deserved for the abysmal jobs numbers he inherited at the height of the Great Recession in February 2009. In other words, none.
14
The upshot of this Upshot, so to speak, is that although one cannot cynically dismiss any positive effect of Trump on the economy, the new robust job statistics are not fantastically improved over employment growth rates from recent months. Perhaps he will unleash the animal spirit of bosses who might suddenly go crazy and expand their work force as they hadn't before. More convincing are the long term effects of actual policies put into place by the Administration. Much as Trump supporters want this added to his win column, these stats should more credited accurately to Obama and his team , who oversaw 75 months of job growth. It remains Obama's recovery.
14
So Trump is promising to release the brakes off the corporate and billionaire class, and the economy continues to grow. Since results are in line with rsults for years under Obama, the argument that increased confidence is responsible doesn't hold water.
However, let's give Trump some credit for things at least not collapsing (as the futures market, the night of the election indicated was happening). His big money friends have rational exuberance, given that they will make a bundle, which they will keep, before the house of cards collapses, and they can then go home with their already earned (sic) bundles of cash, waiting for government bailouts to set things right, sending them back on to the gravy train. They win when things go good; they win when things go bad.
For the rest of us, beware of irrational exuberance. We will ride this for a few more weeks, months, possibly years, before it all falls apart, due to the destruction of regulations and protections (Dodd-Frank, consumer protection agency, capital requirements of banks, etc.) necessitated by the previous economic collapse that Obama helped us slowly, against Republican obstruction, dig our way out of (though not far enough out to hrlp the poor, the working class, etc.).
So we will enjoy the speed of the bullet train, till it goes off the rails, destroying all of us except those riding first class (AKA the 1%).
However, let's give Trump some credit for things at least not collapsing (as the futures market, the night of the election indicated was happening). His big money friends have rational exuberance, given that they will make a bundle, which they will keep, before the house of cards collapses, and they can then go home with their already earned (sic) bundles of cash, waiting for government bailouts to set things right, sending them back on to the gravy train. They win when things go good; they win when things go bad.
For the rest of us, beware of irrational exuberance. We will ride this for a few more weeks, months, possibly years, before it all falls apart, due to the destruction of regulations and protections (Dodd-Frank, consumer protection agency, capital requirements of banks, etc.) necessitated by the previous economic collapse that Obama helped us slowly, against Republican obstruction, dig our way out of (though not far enough out to hrlp the poor, the working class, etc.).
So we will enjoy the speed of the bullet train, till it goes off the rails, destroying all of us except those riding first class (AKA the 1%).
7
Back in the day, employment and unemployment were considered "lagging indicators" of economic conditions. Employers are slow to cut workers when things get slack, and possibly even slower to pick up hiring when things improve. So I would come down on the side of "This has nothing to do with Trump."
If - IF - we see continuing good news consistently over the next four to six months, I will be happy to give Trump credit for creating or maintaining a positive business and/or economic climate, even if no specific policies of his can be said to be responsible for that climate.
If - IF - we see continuing good news consistently over the next four to six months, I will be happy to give Trump credit for creating or maintaining a positive business and/or economic climate, even if no specific policies of his can be said to be responsible for that climate.
6
No is the answer to the lead in this article. The residual effect from Obama's Presidency takes precedence.
7
There is probably some irrational exuberance on Wall Street about freewheeling opportunities when the bothersome regulations are dropped, but economies do not prosper on sentiment alone.
The jobs are following trends established by the Obama administration despite Republican obstruction. The election removed some uncertainty, which would have happened regardless of the outcome.
It is ridiculous to think that the presence of a bloviating do nothing President has singlehandedly created jobs by having CEOs pretend that they are creating jobs in America because Trump tweets from the White House and Mar a logo.
Obama rescued the Economy and Republicans will use the strength built from the prior administration to help their friends until it crashes again as it did under Bush.
The jobs are following trends established by the Obama administration despite Republican obstruction. The election removed some uncertainty, which would have happened regardless of the outcome.
It is ridiculous to think that the presence of a bloviating do nothing President has singlehandedly created jobs by having CEOs pretend that they are creating jobs in America because Trump tweets from the White House and Mar a logo.
Obama rescued the Economy and Republicans will use the strength built from the prior administration to help their friends until it crashes again as it did under Bush.
13
Technically, yes, President Trump deserves the credit (and blame) for the economy's performance from the day of his inauguration until the day he leaves office -- as with all presidents. Trying to come up with a different way of measuring a president's performance is likely to get too muddled and politically. Yes, I do think the economy is still benefiting from Obama's presidency, but, these ain't his numbers anymore.
Yes they are. It is only the nonsensical view that the economy turns on a dime. It does not. go to school to find out.
Ironically, if you glance at the chart they are no better than Obama's last month and Obama had many more previous months that were better, too. Donald's fake numbers are weak and ineffective....So Sad!
These kinds of analyses might provide some kind of order through which to look at the ever-changing economy, but what I find missing is the effect on the economy of just simply having that horrible election campaign over, irrespective of who was elected (by the Electoral College). Even the prognosticators' almost universal certainty that Mrs. Clinton would win the election pales in comparison to now having the certainty of the outcome. The kind of deep uncertainty we had throughout the campaign season, as abetted as it was by its tawdry spectacle, almost certainly had a measurable effect on the condition of the economy. So, in the end, the question is whether the numbers today are better than they would have been if Mrs. Clinton had been inaugurated on January 20th. Which, of course, we can't know with any certainty.
The "animal spirits" argument basically says that if (the right) people think that Trump will help the economy, that belief will help the economy even if it's false. By this kind of self-fulfilling prophecy, we could predict the health of the market using astrology or animal entrails, if enough CEOs believed that these factors effected the economy. Is this a reductio ad absurdum? I hope so. Or are we going to bite the bullet on this, and say Trump is a good president only if the right people think he is?
1
To the victor belong the stats, and the denials. Trump will disavow anything and everything connected with "the mess I inherited," and will claim full responsibility for any residual successes that were set in motion by the previous administration. That's the way it is, and the reception of such claims and denials is left to the sophisticated citizens of America, who have so effectively shown their ability to sort fact from fake.
9
It's a ridiculous question.
The question makes assumptions that are not valid all the time.
One the numbers are a indication of something the President did to help the economy
I can think of many situations where this is not true.
The unemployment rate for example went down when Bush invaded Iraq.
Should Bush get the credit for this and should Obama be blamed for an increase when he took our troops out of Iraq.
Two the numbers go up or down as a result of actions that the President has taken.
The numbers can be a result of something that the President did not effect.
The economy can be effected by something someone else did.
I believe unemployment under Bush went up because of the mortgage crisis that was not his fault.
I believe the unemployment numbers went down under Obama when the effects of that crisis were no longer a factor and tĥe economy returned to where it was .
Trump has only been President for one month.
We should ask this question a year from now when we will know more than we do now.
.
of any action the President took.
There numbers
The question makes assumptions that are not valid all the time.
One the numbers are a indication of something the President did to help the economy
I can think of many situations where this is not true.
The unemployment rate for example went down when Bush invaded Iraq.
Should Bush get the credit for this and should Obama be blamed for an increase when he took our troops out of Iraq.
Two the numbers go up or down as a result of actions that the President has taken.
The numbers can be a result of something that the President did not effect.
The economy can be effected by something someone else did.
I believe unemployment under Bush went up because of the mortgage crisis that was not his fault.
I believe the unemployment numbers went down under Obama when the effects of that crisis were no longer a factor and tĥe economy returned to where it was .
Trump has only been President for one month.
We should ask this question a year from now when we will know more than we do now.
.
of any action the President took.
There numbers
Trump will take credit for anything good and none for anything that goes bad.
20
Lies, distortion, deception the main characteristics of Trump's "presidency" so far....shamelessly claiming credit for something he didn't cause. What a blunder electing this so-called "president"
9
You may not like him, but Trump is the President. He's not a so-called President. He's a "president." He's the legitimately elected President in accordance with the Constitution. Live with it.
2
Just as President Obama inherited an economy in free fall that he was not responsible for, President Trump inherits an economy growing at a solid pace, with few signs that the growth is likely to abate in the near term. This would not be the first time that Donald Trump has been the beneficiary of a good inheritance.
52
You are correct.
Trump did inherit a better economy than Obama did.
This could be a good thing or a bad thing for Trump.
No economy goes up forever.
Historically economies when they grow will get to a level that can not be sustained and will contract.
It is very likely we have already reached that level or shortly will.
The true test that Trump has to pass is when this happens will he be able to minimize the effects of this downturn just like we should judge Obama not just on the fact the economy improved but how that improvement maximized the positive aspects of that upturn in the economy.
Trump did inherit a better economy than Obama did.
This could be a good thing or a bad thing for Trump.
No economy goes up forever.
Historically economies when they grow will get to a level that can not be sustained and will contract.
It is very likely we have already reached that level or shortly will.
The true test that Trump has to pass is when this happens will he be able to minimize the effects of this downturn just like we should judge Obama not just on the fact the economy improved but how that improvement maximized the positive aspects of that upturn in the economy.
1
Conservative 'splainer Neil Irwin writes: "And it’s worth a reminder that the recent numbers are entirely consistent with the economy’s growth pattern for years."
That would be eight years of first recovery, and then strong job growth under President Barack Obama. But nowhere in this purported essay on job growth under Trump does Irwin give President Obama credit for it.
So, no, Neil, the question of who deserves credit for the strong jobs report is not one that is "ambiguous", and it doesn't "boils down to your philosophy of how the economy works."
Credit goes to the man who put the policies in place that created those jobs: Barack Obama.
It's simple.
That would be eight years of first recovery, and then strong job growth under President Barack Obama. But nowhere in this purported essay on job growth under Trump does Irwin give President Obama credit for it.
So, no, Neil, the question of who deserves credit for the strong jobs report is not one that is "ambiguous", and it doesn't "boils down to your philosophy of how the economy works."
Credit goes to the man who put the policies in place that created those jobs: Barack Obama.
It's simple.
39
Wrong
The number Americans not in the labor force continued to drop, to 94,190,000 in February, 176,000 fewer than in January and well below the record of 95,102,000 set in December 2016
December 2016 the record was set for least amount of Americans participating in the labor force. Fewer people were consistently not participating in the economy over the last two years of Obama. There are now nearly a million less people who are not participating since December.
Clearly nothing to do with Obama. I know why don't you blame Bush. Maybe it took 8 years to fix things.
The number Americans not in the labor force continued to drop, to 94,190,000 in February, 176,000 fewer than in January and well below the record of 95,102,000 set in December 2016
December 2016 the record was set for least amount of Americans participating in the labor force. Fewer people were consistently not participating in the economy over the last two years of Obama. There are now nearly a million less people who are not participating since December.
Clearly nothing to do with Obama. I know why don't you blame Bush. Maybe it took 8 years to fix things.
3
He bears as much responsibility for these numbers as he does for the sun coming up. It's Obamas doing despite the best efforts of Republican seditionists, bigots and economic traitors to stop him (LIke spineless, vile GOP hypocrite Ted Cruz, whose government shut down cost the economy 24 billion and for which he should be in prison, not the Senate.) And you can count on all this unraveling once Republican give everything to my rich friends and steal whatever else they haven't gotten their greedy hands on policies take hold.
23
Name ONE thing Barack Obama did to improve the state of the U.S. Economy. Third highest top marginal corporate income tax rate in the world? $830 Billion in failed Stimulus? Anemic 1.9% growth? Americans living below the Poverty Line up 3.5%? Home ownership down 5.6%? Americans on Food Stamps up nearly 40%? Nation Debt up over 80%? Skyrocketing Obamacare premiums and deductibles? Obama did everything in his power to frustrate economic growth. As for Unemployment dropping to 4.7% - totally misleading. Obama always cited the U-3 rating, which drops unemployed workers from the count when they exhaust their unemployment benefits, and doesn't count the self-employed, failed small-business owners, temp workers and contractors. Earn $20.00 mowing your neighbor's lawn - and you are no longer counted as unemployed. Obama talked a great game - but, it was all a crock.
2
And if by chance we were losing jobs, would The Times give Trump a pass?
3
Sorry, unless trump does something stupid like apply in import tax that starts a trade war, there is very little accountability that can be dumped on a President for at least a year or two.
1
Would Trump take credit if we were losing jobs?
So what miracle has happened in the 4 weeks of Trump?
While Trump is championing these numbers... Keep in mind these are the lowest numbers of the last three years...
1
The question "Should Trump get credit for good job numbers?". The answer is of course not, but he will it any way. The economy always do well under democratic administration, because their policies are well thought through based on economic principles instead of party principles. It doesn't matter what Trump says, what matters most is manufacturing jobs, not even construction jobs will do it. Republicans are in for a fall in a big way in 2008.
7
Every article that I have read about this report stresses the fact that the greatest increase was in construction jobs particularly in the Northeast due to an especially warm February. So unless you want to believe that God loves Donald Trump so much that he increased the average winter temperature for our country then no Donald Trump doesn't deserve credit for this job increase. However I think that Trump does deserve almost all of the credit for another type of increase. That is the increase in hate crimes. That increase definitely belongs to Donald Trump.
88
In fairness, God did look down and make the rain stop so Trump could speak comfortably at his inauguration, so there is a precedent here...
1
One of the things business look at is consumer confidence. If consumers are confident they spend. Spending reduces inventories, which means demand exceeds production.. Do you believe that trump is good for business? Or is his chaotic policy and behavior lead to reducing risk. Tax cuts for corporation mean more money can be sent to share holders. Thus the market climbs. What we will see is does it continue to climb.
If you work for the EPA or Dept of Commerce, you consumer confidence isn't actually soaring now.
Trump taking false credit
19
Macro economic trends don't turn on a dime. The dire situation in 2008 took years to turn around. The American public took to blaming the Ds for the high budget deficits and the fact that the economy did not turn around immediately. This happy talk from the business sector about the rosy future for tax cuts, deregulation and increased infrastructure spending when the economy has been on an upward trend for the last 5 years is easy to sell. The problem is that the fears of globalization and the loss jobs in the mid west has not been stemmed and the likely policies to be put forth for by Trump will not do much to rectify these worries.
2
The economy under Obama was not increasingly improving. U-3 Unemployment figures progressively dropped as more and more unemployed workers exhausted their benefits - and thus, were removed from the Unemployment numbers.
3
During the election he claimed all those numbers were made up. He deserves no credit as they are the result of 8 years of Obama who went from inheriting job losses of > 250,000 a month for the 3 months in a row prior to when he took office. Let's see where Trump is one year into office. And BTW, the DJIA went from 8000-18000 on Obamas watch too, or an average gain of 1.6% every month for 96 months. So if the DJIA is at 30,000 when Trumps 4 years are up he will have almost equaled the Kenyan's performance. We'll see.
25
You know the buffoon will take all the credit for all the good news not related to his turn at the helm, and blame President Obama when the ship runs aground. Prepare to abandon ship.
Donald Trump deserves credit for the Republican policy-based Depression he is about to create.
It took George W. Bush a full seven and a half years to wipe America's economy off the map from 2001 - 2008.
I believe Donald Trump can accomplish another Republican Depression in a much shorter time span.
It took George W. Bush a full seven and a half years to wipe America's economy off the map from 2001 - 2008.
I believe Donald Trump can accomplish another Republican Depression in a much shorter time span.
84
Good Old Soc Thanks for millenniums of solid,rational advice. For god's sake keep it going! We need you now more then ever!
2
I agree! Of course his inability to be honest with himself will result in him taking full credit for all of our nation's accomplishments from the exact moment from his infestation...err, I mean his birth.
1
It wasn't just Bush to blame for that but he is partly responsible. The U.S. economy is enormously complicated. Screwing it up takes a great deal of cooperation.
The Bush administration, which failed to provide needed government oversight of the increasingly dicey mortgage-backed securities market.
The Clinton administration, which pushed for less stringent credit and down payment requirements for working- and middle-class families.
Former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, who in 2004, near the peak of the housing bubble, encouraged Americans to take out adjustable rate mortgages.
The Dot com bubble burst.
Overall it was several administrations working for the benefit of large corporations and not the benefit of the American people.
The Bush administration, which failed to provide needed government oversight of the increasingly dicey mortgage-backed securities market.
The Clinton administration, which pushed for less stringent credit and down payment requirements for working- and middle-class families.
Former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, who in 2004, near the peak of the housing bubble, encouraged Americans to take out adjustable rate mortgages.
The Dot com bubble burst.
Overall it was several administrations working for the benefit of large corporations and not the benefit of the American people.
Jobs do matter but type of jobs and the benefits that come with them is never measured with the numbers. +235K jobs is great but as GOP often cite when Obama's tenure when Employment numbers are up, they say this is are not the good jobs that we need. I defer to the same argument here. Sure Big Business is looking forward to less regulation and less taxes but how is this affecting the rest of the economy. Will spending also increase when people have to worry about paying for their health insurance. Consumer confidence is probably on a wait and see attitude for the first year. Only the Trump supporters are out spending not realizing that they will need that money to cover their new Healthcare costs.
9
Whom to credit or blame? Why are the coal miners shaking hands with the President not at work? Are they on paid vacation? Are they forgetting that disappearing corporate taxes go away and will be paid by someone; if not corporations, then workers and coal miners. If roads are not repaired with taxes, coal miners can walk on them to the mine. Are they smiling because they like the President’s looks or because they enjoy daily walks? Because they will save car insurance premiums and gasoline? Imagining romantic hormones of corporate executives as an economic driver is a warning. Which great Wharton class teaches romance?
2
I wondered why the coal miners were wearing work clothes and their mining helmets for a White House visit. Just another Trump staged photo op.
If the mood in the executive suite is different, then it comes from an appreciation that the prevailing winds may be shifting.
or perhaps the realization that the steady job gain through the obama years really means increasing demand, since it's demand that drives economic growth.
I think this is a fair-minded and balanced analysis of a complicated subject. I despise Donald Trump, but don't have a problem with his "taking credit" for what happens on his watch, because that's how these things ultimately get sorted out in public opinion. Deserving or not, Trump's presidency will be judged in substantial part on how the economy performs during the next few years. But these are just one month's numbers; let's wait and see what happens when his economic and regulatory decisions *are* part of the mix, and are actually affecting the direction of the economy -- and the deficit, and the welfare of the American people. A temporary surge in the stock market and employment numbers just doesn't mean very much to our long-term prosperity.
8
This is being driven by the same thing that is driving the stock market rise: Optimism.
Changes "to the tax code or federal spending" are not required to happen first if the business world is confident that will happen eventually.
Changes "to the tax code or federal spending" are not required to happen first if the business world is confident that will happen eventually.
3
You think we can dispense with an operating government. Other sober commenters say, let our socialistic managers work it out, but that requires an operative government. I pray on balance that your romantic views, which are views of Stephen Bannon and certain CEO’s, lose. Optimism is wonderful. Pessimism not so much. Relying on emotions may be a GOP psychiatric disorder, not an economic strategy. It might depend on whether victims wish to consult the economics department or the medical school and whether learning from the past is meritorious.
1
As I recall, Pres. Dumpster claimed the Labor Dept's jobs numbers weren't accurate as they underreported millions of people looking for work.
What he needs to do is announce what he believes the real numbers are and then not take credit for any of it.
What he needs to do is announce what he believes the real numbers are and then not take credit for any of it.
65
No indeed. His supporters may think so since they do not care about economic cycles or the mechanism of such cycles.
6
I believe Trump can take credit for the stock market surge - because like him, it's soaring on a baseless emotional optimism, lacking any fundamental logic.
But the other, longer-term economic data, you know, the stuff based on facts, math and science, no way he gets credit for that.
But the other, longer-term economic data, you know, the stuff based on facts, math and science, no way he gets credit for that.
48
This is a democracy after all. Lets put it to a vote. Does Mr. T deserve any credit for solid economic results? I vote NO! All in favor of NO?
77
...and how did he contribute in practice in his short term in office to create jobs? What is attributed to him that gives him the right to take credit?
19
Republican will not add jobs. Republicans will give massive tax cuts to the wealthy and the wealthy will pocket the money. Trickle down economics is a myth.
47
What did he do in order to claim credit?
14
The market confidence could be less a matter of Trump and more a collective attempt to pretend like everything's okay right before it collapses.
9
Can't do no right, can he? Opposition party, indeed...
1
Sure he can do right. he just chooses not too. And as far as how to be the opposition party, The Democrats learned from the best. The party of no, the GOP.
2
If the economy were to turn down now, its because of Obama. Somehow.
9
No he absolutely shouldn't! If it's a positive thing, even if Trump obviously had nothing to do with it, of course he'll take credit for it. When it's a negative thing he obviously created or caused he of course then blames everyone and anyone else.
13
Should Trump Get Credit for Good Jobs Numbers?
What is this a back page comic book riddle? The numbers would have come in the same without Trump. They represent the momentum achieved from eight years of informed intelligent decisions. Now watch it go down the toilet starting with hospital related jobs if the GOP wreck health care bill goes through. Trump has rarely ever been able to make anything work without rigging the game, ripping someone off.
And the Drudge Report, please, everyone knows its the sludge report, ugly twin to Breitbart, both certified yellow rags specializing in actual "Fake News". Speaking of which the headline here doesn't do much for the Times credibility. A shallow attempt to harvest clicks.
Anyone basing business decisions on the promise Trump holds for America is a fool. Review the Trump agenda; privately sponsored infrastructure projects, environmental degradation, predatory banking, trade agreements driven by the clueless. How seemingly intelligent people cannot or will not see that this guy is the ultimate class clown is breathtaking. The man is an idiot, he proves it everyday.
Then there is the fact that he hired several veteran Russian hands and a few others self implicated like Sessions who then lied under oath.
And lets be honest here, half the workforce works for less than $15.00 per hour and that's about what it would cost to maintain a slave in good working order if the slave had food stamps. It's just modern slavery, dead end jobs.
What is this a back page comic book riddle? The numbers would have come in the same without Trump. They represent the momentum achieved from eight years of informed intelligent decisions. Now watch it go down the toilet starting with hospital related jobs if the GOP wreck health care bill goes through. Trump has rarely ever been able to make anything work without rigging the game, ripping someone off.
And the Drudge Report, please, everyone knows its the sludge report, ugly twin to Breitbart, both certified yellow rags specializing in actual "Fake News". Speaking of which the headline here doesn't do much for the Times credibility. A shallow attempt to harvest clicks.
Anyone basing business decisions on the promise Trump holds for America is a fool. Review the Trump agenda; privately sponsored infrastructure projects, environmental degradation, predatory banking, trade agreements driven by the clueless. How seemingly intelligent people cannot or will not see that this guy is the ultimate class clown is breathtaking. The man is an idiot, he proves it everyday.
Then there is the fact that he hired several veteran Russian hands and a few others self implicated like Sessions who then lied under oath.
And lets be honest here, half the workforce works for less than $15.00 per hour and that's about what it would cost to maintain a slave in good working order if the slave had food stamps. It's just modern slavery, dead end jobs.
19
Mr. Trump said "I inherited a big mess" and that claimed wrongly that 96? million people are out of work. Having said that, I'm sure he'll take credit for this.
At this juncture, We have to thank President Obama who did a fantastic job! He found the economy in the "Great Recession" but left the office in much better shape and so bullish positive all around. (All of this inspite of relentless obstruction from the other party)
Trump and his wrecking crew is coming in to do just the opposite. We'll see what the state of economy is when Trump leaves the office.
At this juncture, We have to thank President Obama who did a fantastic job! He found the economy in the "Great Recession" but left the office in much better shape and so bullish positive all around. (All of this inspite of relentless obstruction from the other party)
Trump and his wrecking crew is coming in to do just the opposite. We'll see what the state of economy is when Trump leaves the office.
20
No, Lets wait and see what the July August numbers are. Trump is riding Obamas coat tails, he had nothing to do with any of these numbers. The over inflate Stock Market is due for a correction. How much that will be, will all be Trumps responsibility.
11
The simple answer to this question is, no. Mr. Trump has yet to institute policies that affect the economy. I suppose, however, if he really wants to take credit, he can also take credit for the national debt, the trade deficit and the budget deficit. Seems to me he's can't take credit for the good without being responsible for the bad.
I suppose he could return to his claim that the "real" unemployment rate is 40%. He seems to have given up on the argument that the unemployment numbers are fake.
I suppose he could return to his claim that the "real" unemployment rate is 40%. He seems to have given up on the argument that the unemployment numbers are fake.
9
Always thought it crazy that Clinton (Bill that is), took credit for the dot-com windfall, but the crash and after-effects were owned by Bush.
So in keeping with "tradition", Trump owns the report.
So in keeping with "tradition", Trump owns the report.
7
Like the rooster crowing as if he's responsible for the dawn.
31
NO!!!! Trump's employment policies won't be felt for about two years.
10
If these numbers were bad Trump would claim "fake news". Bogus numbers.
But since it's positive Trump will certainly take credit.
The fact is the numbers are good and Trump will continue to boast and tell the world how wonderful he is. If you support Trump you will believe him and feel he is MR WONDERFUL. If you don't support Trump then you will question who actually gets credit.
I personally believe that it's been too soon for the Trump presidency to take credit for this and this is a continuation of the steady job growth from the Obama administration.
But since it's positive Trump will certainly take credit.
The fact is the numbers are good and Trump will continue to boast and tell the world how wonderful he is. If you support Trump you will believe him and feel he is MR WONDERFUL. If you don't support Trump then you will question who actually gets credit.
I personally believe that it's been too soon for the Trump presidency to take credit for this and this is a continuation of the steady job growth from the Obama administration.
13
I think that whether or not Trump should get the credit for job numbers, a number of economic think tanks who predicted that US will start losing jobs should feel the consequences:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/06/us/politics/donald-trump-trade.html
We've seen this before with Brexit, when Carney as a supposedly unpolitical head of BoE came out with a highly politicized prediction of job losses as a result of Brexit - which also proved to be spectacularly wrong.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/06/us/politics/donald-trump-trade.html
We've seen this before with Brexit, when Carney as a supposedly unpolitical head of BoE came out with a highly politicized prediction of job losses as a result of Brexit - which also proved to be spectacularly wrong.
3
"The corporate chiefs who decide whether to hire and invest are forward-looking, and the prospect of lower taxes and lighter regulation may indeed be making them more eager to deploy cash."
Seriously? Over the past 7 years, the S&P 500 has spent 105% of its reported earnings on dividends and share buy-backs. That's right - not a penny of earnings was reinvested in their businesses (any investment would have to have been by means of additional borrowings).
I think it's safe to assume that for every CEO looking to go out and hire new employees, there are dozens and dozens who stay awake at night (or task others to stay awake) trying to figure out how to eliminate positions.
Seriously? Over the past 7 years, the S&P 500 has spent 105% of its reported earnings on dividends and share buy-backs. That's right - not a penny of earnings was reinvested in their businesses (any investment would have to have been by means of additional borrowings).
I think it's safe to assume that for every CEO looking to go out and hire new employees, there are dozens and dozens who stay awake at night (or task others to stay awake) trying to figure out how to eliminate positions.
11
Trump gets credit for nothing.
22
No.
11
President Donald Trump inherited a stable, growing economy while Barack Obama inherited the worst economic recession in modern history. Go figure.
47
Only if he takes ownership of the coming stock market bubble burst and the following depression. But based on our short experience under him he will blame it on Obama or Hillary or Pelosi. So the answer is no.
13
Yawn. Who wouldn't expect this demagogue president to continue to make more fraudulent claims, taking credit for something he and his non-existent (at the time) cabinet could have exercised any control over. He cherry-picks what he feels are facts vs. not at random like a spoiled 2nd grader. Let's see what happens as his ACA "reforms" tank the healthcare market, border taxes tank the retail sector--the list goes on and on...
6
Didn't Trump say that these numbers were fake? That the numbers are totally fictitious. That the actual unemployment are up to 42 percent. Now he takes credit!! What a phony.
8
When a painfully narcissistic and destructive liar constantly demands attention, credit, and praise, Isn't it a natural reaction to not provide it?
4
Since we are assessing credit and blame, the credit for increased confidence goes to the fact that the fake news industry, congress, think tanks, and a presidential candidate have stopped portraying the US economy as a doomed hellscape.
Once the PR campaign against confidence stops, people fee more confident.
Once the PR campaign against confidence stops, people fee more confident.
1
Here's the real question: "Would the job numbers have been better with Clinton?". Let's think about the Clinton plan: more regulation, higher taxes...it's pretty easy to say no.
These jobs are a win for Trump and America. Congrats to all of the new jobholders! Keep making America great.
These jobs are a win for Trump and America. Congrats to all of the new jobholders! Keep making America great.
2
Doesn't matter. Good: Trump. Bad: Obama. Trump rule #3.
1
I have no doubt Trump will take credit but the record says otherwise. Republican George Bush slithered out of the white house leaving Barack a real mess. Barack's even keel plus Ben Bernanke's effort dug the US out of the massive hole Bush created.
Unfortunately, the public is gullible so a world class con man comes along and fools them again. What does Joe Public get as his reward for electing Trump? The repugs thank Joe but gutting his health care.
I am amazed that humans learned to walk upright.
Unfortunately, the public is gullible so a world class con man comes along and fools them again. What does Joe Public get as his reward for electing Trump? The repugs thank Joe but gutting his health care.
I am amazed that humans learned to walk upright.
2
Let's see how the orange clan handles a crisis. Market, economy, and everything else won't matter then. Maybe he'll ask Vlad for help.
Sure. As long as he gets ALL the blame, when folks start dying off from his GREAT healthcare plan. Bigly.
5
He can't claim that the numbers were bogus, faked or rigged in the Obama years, then take credit for +235k once he's in office. The hypocrisy of this president is staggering (and embarrassing to the country).
6
No way this has anything to do with Trump or the Republicans. The lag between actions and any benefit is pretty long - I'm sure we're seeing trailing effects of Obama administration actions.
3
Truth? The "market" is simply flying along and workin' overtime, doing what it does, and HOPING that this president will NOT suddenly cast his gaze upon it and then god knows what will happen. That's the "mood" thing at work. The reality is that this continued strength is due to 8 years of President Obama and his policies and what he did to save us from The Next Great Depression.
3
Can we simply stop with this Trump nonsense? He adds nothing. So why hint as if he has - in any capacity?
4
Should Trump get credit for good job numbers? This question is a joke, right? There is nothing Trump or any other president can do during one month in office to change anything, although Trump has been doing his best to burn down the house in a big hurry. Job numbers have been going up steadily for several years. Nothing has changed. If there is a president who should get credit (and I am not sure there3 is) it would be Barack Obama. Please - get real or save the column inches for something else.
7
Here's what I don't understand: If the effective corporate tax rate is 14% and many companies like GE get rebates, why are executives excited with tax of lowering it to 20%? Perhaps they think they'll pay even less and leave more of the burden to the middle class.
1
How many months of Obama before jobs numbers turned around in 2009?
1
Prezident trump should be given credit for inheriting a robust labor market and not mucking it up entirely in his first month. He should also be given credit for inheriting a substantial fortune from his father and not wasting it completely, in spite of his multiple bankruptcies and amoral business practices.
6
Yet another example of the Bovine Scatology in chief doing his thing.
2
It won't hurt him and that is the issue.
1
Not a chance. It takes at least 6 months for a new president's actions to affect these numbers.
But the short-fingered, so-called President will certainly take the credit.
But the short-fingered, so-called President will certainly take the credit.
3
Look at the great upswing in jobs numbers that Obama handed off to you Pres Trump! Some mess.
22
Funny, the upswing happened after the weakest recovery since WWII (2010 through 2016) That weakness, of course, must have been Someone Else's Fault.
Bush, by the way, managed a pretty strong recovery after the double hit of the 2000 tech bust AND 9/11. He was no genius regarding economics, had no clue what a credit-default swap was but other than that landmine he managed not bungle the economy despite powerful external headwinds and a pointless war. He also instituted the stimulus and bailout plan that Obama administered once in office.
So, do you say that Bush handed off the keys to a recovery to Pres Obama?
I thought not.
Bush, by the way, managed a pretty strong recovery after the double hit of the 2000 tech bust AND 9/11. He was no genius regarding economics, had no clue what a credit-default swap was but other than that landmine he managed not bungle the economy despite powerful external headwinds and a pointless war. He also instituted the stimulus and bailout plan that Obama administered once in office.
So, do you say that Bush handed off the keys to a recovery to Pres Obama?
I thought not.
1
In the sense that Bush handed Obama the recession, he can be thanked for the Obama recovery, much in the same way an arsonist is to thank for the heroics of fire fighters. And what a recession fire it was: the worst since the Great Depression, with global crashes in financial markets weighing on the entire world. Thank god we didn't have the recession leadership continue in the US like it continued in the EU.
As for the rest of Bush's term, the growth was not strong....it was 1.6% annual GDP growth for his term.
As for the rest of Bush's term, the growth was not strong....it was 1.6% annual GDP growth for his term.
3
And will Mr. Trump move as quickly to accept responsibility if the numbers go in the opposite direction in the future?
248
Right on. He won't. He's like that annoying jerk we all knew in junior high school who took credit for good stuff he didn't do, and blamed others for his screw-ups.
No, if that happens, it's Obama's fault.
1
Then the numbers will be declared "fake"
February's numbers fall right in line with a steady eight year trend -- what credit does one deserve for not disturbing a long established trend?
10
Didn't realize the clown Spicy had already twit-bragged on it. These guys are real hucksters. Shameless. Boss Hog is meeting with the congressional know-nothing's pretending his lie of better, universal coverage and lower premiums, deductibles and co-pays really means 15 million people lose coverage, the exchanges collapse, rich people get a huge tax cut, people in red welfare states (his voters) are left unprotected by Medicaid and the elderly, sick and poor can eat cake. How Christian of you. Comrades, it looks like amerikan exceptionalism again will include 30 to 40 million people suffering without health care to go along with our 50 million fellow citizens are food insecure. Be so proud. USA, USA, USA.....
12
It has been known he would be President since November 9th, so the "anticipatory" mindset of employers during the three months that have transpired could have had an impact on hiring. But in fairness that realistically could have accounted for no more than 25% given actual policy changes take far longer to have a meaningful effect. Of course this does not factor in the major cutbacks in health care employment that the health care bill just rolled out will drive.
8
Bottom line is we are still enjoying the steady hand of Obama for the last eight yrs, who got us quickly out of the greatest recession in our history.
If Trump continues these policies of a careful, slow economic growth, he will succeed.
If he does what the admitted war criminal Bush 2 did in 2008, ie let corporations run wild and turn Wall St into a casino, we will have one, two, three or more yrs of boom and then another great recession...repeat of 2008.
The choice is yours America.
If Trump continues these policies of a careful, slow economic growth, he will succeed.
If he does what the admitted war criminal Bush 2 did in 2008, ie let corporations run wild and turn Wall St into a casino, we will have one, two, three or more yrs of boom and then another great recession...repeat of 2008.
The choice is yours America.
55
Obama continued Bush's stimulus plan. Recessions and expansion is a basic feature of the economy, all a President actually needs to do is not prolong the former or kill the latter. Crediting x or y President with sole ownership of the economic cycle is like giving them credit or blame for New England weather.
2
One thing is for sure: if the higher pay and decent jobs enjoyed by their recipients are signs of their personal "merit" (i.e., "achieved," and this is the cornerstone of our meritocracy philosophy), then the timing of one's life trajectory relative to economic fluctuations is everything - the sine qua non of "merit." In other words, if effort, skill, intelligence and good judgment, persistence and good 'character' (whatever exactly that may entail - knowing exactly when you can get away with cutting a corner or stepping on a toe or two?) cumulative comprise this thing we call "merit," entering the economic fray at exactly the right moment is merit's most critical component.
Many of those graduating into this expanding economy will quite possibly enjoy and pursue lives of opulence reminiscent of the Reagan decade of which Trump is our purest living emblem.
Many millenials and generation x-ers will find themselves struggling to be employed by young graduates who slide in to the easy prosperity this wealthier cohort will consider it's natural, just desert.
On a multiple choice test they'll have acknowledged the role of good luck, buthe they will easily accept their economic power and prosperity relative to their unemployed and semi-employed slacker and slattern predecessors as fundamentally right and deserved.
Because the timing of their employment start coincided with the upswing. Don't expect Mr. Trump to contradict the tacit or explicit stance.
Many of those graduating into this expanding economy will quite possibly enjoy and pursue lives of opulence reminiscent of the Reagan decade of which Trump is our purest living emblem.
Many millenials and generation x-ers will find themselves struggling to be employed by young graduates who slide in to the easy prosperity this wealthier cohort will consider it's natural, just desert.
On a multiple choice test they'll have acknowledged the role of good luck, buthe they will easily accept their economic power and prosperity relative to their unemployed and semi-employed slacker and slattern predecessors as fundamentally right and deserved.
Because the timing of their employment start coincided with the upswing. Don't expect Mr. Trump to contradict the tacit or explicit stance.
5
When Obama left office there was a record 75 consecutive months of job growth. In 2016, 2 million new jobs were created. A new president's policies takes time to see the economic effects. There is already documented evidence that Trump has been taking credit for new jobs that have already been planned prior to his presidency.
43
When the economy was tanking in the first weeks of the Obama presidency, it wasn't fair to cast blame on him; clearly he sharply reversed the tide. Trump getting patted on the back by Breitbart for job numbers added at the beginning of his presidency is similarly unfair. These gains can be attributed to 8 years of the Obama presidency, not Trump's short weeks long stint in office. This is especially true considering jobs have been rising consistently under Obama before this. Another point to mention is that Trump quotes that jobs haven't been rising this fast since late 2015. For anyone with any memory, this was during Obama's term and about 15 months ago.
But be sure if the economy tanks, Trump will immediately say it is Obama's fault, no matter how far along in Trump's term we are. Trump takes credit of the achievements of others, and passes the buck when he fails.
But be sure if the economy tanks, Trump will immediately say it is Obama's fault, no matter how far along in Trump's term we are. Trump takes credit of the achievements of others, and passes the buck when he fails.
65
Recessions and expansions both have a limited lifespan. A president can shape and possibly change the size of those cycles, but s/he is not the cause of a basic feature of the economy.
Within limits, expansions and recessions both have beneficial effects, although extremes bring about long term unemployment (which has no good side) on the recession side and extreme speculation/credit/collapse events on the other side. An extreme expansion may lead to construction of things like railroads & internet fiber, but ends with useless asset bubbles & defaults.
Minus the extremes, both the expansion and recession serve useful functions, one of more experimentation, investment and risk, the other of calming, consolidating and greater efficiency.
Within limits, expansions and recessions both have beneficial effects, although extremes bring about long term unemployment (which has no good side) on the recession side and extreme speculation/credit/collapse events on the other side. An extreme expansion may lead to construction of things like railroads & internet fiber, but ends with useless asset bubbles & defaults.
Minus the extremes, both the expansion and recession serve useful functions, one of more experimentation, investment and risk, the other of calming, consolidating and greater efficiency.
This is the problem, constantly trying to assign a winner and losing team. Does the red team get the credit? Or is it the blue team? The trajectory of the economy is complicated to say the least. Contributing factors range from local to global. No one party or person deserves sole credit or blame.
4
Generally true but some can get more credit than others, for example, the admitted war criminal Bush 2 drove the economy off the cliff with the great recession of 2008 (with democratic help) and Obama righted the ship for the next eight yrs...
4
Trump should ABSOLUTELY get credit for this bump in the jobs number. Certain naive business owners and business leaders took his pie in he sky promises as gospel and Trump should get 100% credit for fooling them.
And Trump should all of the blame when the coming recession hits him and the country in the forehead like a 2x4 because Ttump is completely incompetent at anything other than making foolish promises and lying.
And Trump should all of the blame when the coming recession hits him and the country in the forehead like a 2x4 because Ttump is completely incompetent at anything other than making foolish promises and lying.
12
To the extent we have a free market as we were intended to (Adam Smith's model) a President does not manage not the economy, they only impede or permit it. To the extent we have a socialist/crony capitalist economy, a President does manage it. You sound as if you don't want option 1.
1
It's wonderful that the employment figures have gone up. It was wonderful that the employment figures went up over the last three years of the Obama administration. What isn't wonderful is that Trump and the Republicans kept saying that the figures were false, not counting those who gave up on trying to find jobs, those not working due to illness or being in college. Always trying to denigrate the unemployment numbers under Obamacare because he wasn't counting all the unemployed. So now, Trump is going to take credit for the wonderful, huge, best ever unemployment rate. What a hypocrite.
160
And there was always a rush to pick apart the Obama gains in employment...those are low paying jobs, or temporary jobs, or wages didn't grow.
So they are surprised that confidence goes up when the bad PR stops, and that the bad PR stops when Obama's not president? Please.
So they are surprised that confidence goes up when the bad PR stops, and that the bad PR stops when Obama's not president? Please.
2
The Trump wins the biggest poker game in political history. We the People are players in gamed rigged by a billionaire bluffer. Intelligent people know the high cards were dealt in the Obama Administration. Others will figure it out when their stash turns out counterfeit.
8
Trump is the president, so he will get credit or blame regardless of whether it's his to get. It's the nature of the job.
5
True but Presidents can make it better or worse...
1
You missed the context, it is about the time in office. I don't blame Trump that we are in Afghanistan still. The war was started by Bush, continued under Obama, and Trump has only been president for a month and a half. Similarly, he doesn't get to take credit for these jobs, especially since these numbers only account for a few weeks of his presidency.
Your point is overly reductive.
Your point is overly reductive.
1
When Jamie Dimon enthuses about those "reawakened animal spirits," why do I feel a sudden chill and sense of foreboding?
12
"So how much of the economic gains evident in the data does the Trump administration actually deserve credit for?" NONE.
The writer of said article answered his own question quite thoroughly. So what was the purpose of raising this straw-Horse? I am really beginning to dislike the whole "The Upshot" series. The articles typically begin and end just like this one.
The writer of said article answered his own question quite thoroughly. So what was the purpose of raising this straw-Horse? I am really beginning to dislike the whole "The Upshot" series. The articles typically begin and end just like this one.
1
I, on the other hand, commend the timing of the article and the information contained in it. It answered my questions in a balanced, well-written manner. Pretty much precisely what I expect from a responsible news provider
2
The stock market is not the economy-we keep hearing that. And the main reason for the exuberance in the economy and the big Wall St jump stems from the prospect of tax breaks for the wealthy and reduced environmental, workers' rights, and banking regulations-all of which will no doubt be great for the economy (at least for the manager and owner class). These reduced regulations (another word for them is 'protections') will be devastating for the environment and the average worker.
Perfectly fine for team Trump to take credit as long as they are willing to take responsibility for the fallout years down the line.
Perfectly fine for team Trump to take credit as long as they are willing to take responsibility for the fallout years down the line.
7
You got it, John. The stock market is an entirely separate machine and right now it is on super-high. And it hopes the president does not turn and cast his eye on it, god forbid. It'll roll along doing what it does as long as it can. When those new policies that usher in greater pollution, fewer rights for workers, higher medical care costs kick in, we'll see how this market works. And how the economy overall operates.
Meanwhile, these positive returns really are still due to President Obama and 8 years of work and policies.
Meanwhile, these positive returns really are still due to President Obama and 8 years of work and policies.
Somewhat of course.
1
Maybe 5-10%.
yes vulcanalex....for the brief uptick, the trump bump....ie wall street salivating at the thought of another pre 2008 casino action, then the crash.
Remember 2008. Learn from history or be condemned to repeat its worst failures.
Remember 2008. Learn from history or be condemned to repeat its worst failures.
4
"Oh wow! Happy days are here again! With Trump in office, business will blossom! I'm going to hire some more people to cope with the workload!"
Can you identify the employer who said that?
Trump had nothing to do with the bright employment numbers. Nothing.
Can you identify the employer who said that?
Trump had nothing to do with the bright employment numbers. Nothing.
10
Everything from February 1st on his,let's see where the country stands in February 2021.
1
I think July 1 and onward would be more fair. Half-way through the year.
Before that? Means nothing. All -- ALL -- due to President Obama.
Before that? Means nothing. All -- ALL -- due to President Obama.
February 2021 is a worst case scenario.
Trump will hopefully be impeached long before that.
Trump will hopefully be impeached long before that.
1
Only if - had the numbers been lousy - The Times would have trashed Trump for that result.
Given the tenor of the coverage The Times gives Trump, I think we know the answer.
Given the tenor of the coverage The Times gives Trump, I think we know the answer.
3
Perhaps the tenor of the coverage reflects the actions of this absurdly second rate administration?
2
I think this article shows one of the greatest cultural and intellectual divides in the country. Early in the article, we have:
"The answer is more ambiguous than you might think — and boils down to your philosophy of how the economy works."
If you are flying across the country 7 miles up in a jumbo jet and encounter a storm, what might you want to ask the pilot? Many people would want to know how experienced the pilot was and whether he or she intended to follow professional best practices. Some others would want to know what the pilot's
philosophy of flying was. Did he believe in fate? Did he think that the transition from life to death was just an illusion? Perhaps he or she thought that God takes care of those who help themselves. Perhaps he or she thought that the weather maps were fabrications of government hacks and that the weather was clear ahead.
This is just my opinion, but I'd rather know that the pilot intended to follow professional best practices, the best available data, plus the refined intuition that he or she had built up over a long career. I can read the great philosophers after I have safely arrived at my destination.
"The answer is more ambiguous than you might think — and boils down to your philosophy of how the economy works."
If you are flying across the country 7 miles up in a jumbo jet and encounter a storm, what might you want to ask the pilot? Many people would want to know how experienced the pilot was and whether he or she intended to follow professional best practices. Some others would want to know what the pilot's
philosophy of flying was. Did he believe in fate? Did he think that the transition from life to death was just an illusion? Perhaps he or she thought that God takes care of those who help themselves. Perhaps he or she thought that the weather maps were fabrications of government hacks and that the weather was clear ahead.
This is just my opinion, but I'd rather know that the pilot intended to follow professional best practices, the best available data, plus the refined intuition that he or she had built up over a long career. I can read the great philosophers after I have safely arrived at my destination.
4
" the pilot intended to follow professional best practices, the best available data, plus the refined intuition that he or she had built up over a long career."
We chased those people out of politics decades ago.
We chased those people out of politics decades ago.
1
Weather events do not extend above an altitude of seven miles.
It is true that jobs have been added and the unemployment has held steady. However, theses jobs don't reflect in which sectors they have risen. It might very well be that they are in those area where individuals are paid the minimum wage. They don't necessarily require any particular/technical skill. There are those who have advanced degrees and are unemployed. There is much more competition in those industries wherein more expertise, more experience, and more technological skills are required.
Trump will toot his own horn without analyzing the statistics. He has expertise in tweeting, but lacks the ability to actually flesh out what the numbers actually represent. It suits his own ego to take credit.
Trump will toot his own horn without analyzing the statistics. He has expertise in tweeting, but lacks the ability to actually flesh out what the numbers actually represent. It suits his own ego to take credit.
5
There are three issues which merit additional consideration for what is being reviewed in this article.The heading is inadvertently misleading in that the complexity of what is being focused on is not a yes, no, or even a maybe answer. Secondly, the author is suggesting, or raising a cause and effect relationship to explain a linear, before and after outcome. Certain empirical conditions need to operate for this to be so; we weren't helped with this. Outcomes can just be associated or occur withput knowing why. Lastly, with the advent of artificial science and its theoretical underpinnings (chaos, complexity, and uncertainty theories) it is now posited that much of what occurs is complex, dynamic, multi-dimensional, non-linear, law-driven and bounded ( culture, time, place, age, etc.). Economic outcomes and trends, however defined and delineated, would be such processes. A number of important issues can be derived from this: (1) Using linear models/tools to study non-linear processes/phenomena can and do result in misleading conclusions and can therefore also result in inappropriate intervention, if, and when needed; (2) the concepts prediction and control have different meanings and dimensions than they do in the more traditional linear 'cause and effect' paradigms; (3) uncertainty, unpredictability, randomness, impermanence, and the lack of real, ongoing control, and not just attempts at influencing, are the dimensions of reality.
In the short term, the stocks and the economy are not connected. Since November, there has benn a rise in stock prices based on the hope of lower taxes for the investors. This has slowed down, since Trump has shown he is more interested in twittering than in proposing legislation. Maybe this will change soon. It is up to Trump and congress to move on tax legislation including any adjustment tax on imports. My fear is that the EU will respond to an adjustment tax with one of their own, on US exports to the EU. This will start a trade war with very uncertain but perhaps severe consequences for the world economy.
2
Trump should get no credit for ANY numbers until he acknowledges the series of numbers that precede them. He's been claiming for the last few years that the employment numbers are "bogus" and "rigged", and he'll say the same thing the next time they are disappointing.
Worrying about whether to give him credit for this particular report misses the point entirely.
Worrying about whether to give him credit for this particular report misses the point entirely.
28
If there is good news Trump will take credit. Bad news, look for Trump to play the blame game. Leadership from this administration so far is sorely lacking and I expect it will get worse. When facts don't matter we all pay a price and that price will be very high. #Pain
21
excuse me? I'm still waiting for Obama to take credit for ANY bad news. As well, wasn't Obama always blaming the GOP for just about everything? Good riddance #PainRelief
No wonder corporate America is so happy since November. I am reminded of a cartoon (I believe from the New Yorker) that showed a convention banner reading "Welcome, Greedy Stockholders," as the speaker on stage says, "Well, I have news that will have you all cackling and rubbing your hands together."
3
If Trump Inc. claim credit for the latest economic/jobs reports they should not be allowed to throw responsibility back to Obama if future reports turn negative.
6
It should get no credit whatsoever, but it will make it its.
1
But I'll bet the mood in the executive suite is not so rosy when it has to factor in Trump's reckless behavior...such as his latest libelous charge against Obama....Those in the executive suites must know this ship does not have a steady hand at the wheel....So forget the 'mood' there..no maybe..The job increase is still an extension of steady job growth during the Obama years..
2
I make a very good salary, my job is stable. But I will not be spending money on anything major. I am Trump-proofing my retirement accounts, I have cancelled all travel plans unless necessary, and plan to put my savings and investments in very conservative funds. I have lived through three Republican presidents who tanked the economy and I see nothing but the same-old same-old from Trump.
249
Very wise Theresa...I have done the same....to be fair to Trump, I do a version of what you do no matter who gets elected but you are right re the admitted war criminal Bush 2 destroying the economy and I am not too keen on a demagogue like Trump doing any better.
3
@Theresa,
You are on to something. Hiring can be good, but if people aren't buying goods or services, those new hires will be fired. Our economy is a consumer economy, it really doesn't matter how many software makers are hired or even engineers. The percentages of those jobs are too small to make a difference where it counts: jobs for people without college.
Let's see how Walmart, McDonald's, etc. do. Will they raise wages? Will they hire people full-time with benefits instead of relying on part-timers? If not, all this talk of good jobs is wasted energy.
You are on to something. Hiring can be good, but if people aren't buying goods or services, those new hires will be fired. Our economy is a consumer economy, it really doesn't matter how many software makers are hired or even engineers. The percentages of those jobs are too small to make a difference where it counts: jobs for people without college.
Let's see how Walmart, McDonald's, etc. do. Will they raise wages? Will they hire people full-time with benefits instead of relying on part-timers? If not, all this talk of good jobs is wasted energy.
Alternative Facts? Did we give Obama credit for the 800,000 jobs lost in his 1st month in office. No it was W's fault. No reasonable person would blame Obama or credit Trump with the 1st few months of economic results. Remember the only business Trump seems to be good at is managing bankruptcy and we should give him time to do that to the US economy. Spoiler alert it will take more than 2 months.
112
The current economic uptick has nothing to do with who sits in the oval office the policies which emerge from the oval office can influence the economy. This has little to do with Trump more so its influence of 7 years of economic policies under Obama. When Obama came into office Republican policies had ruined the economy. Obama had to put policies in place to grow the economy which caused the economy to grow and when he left office the country was in a much better economic position. This logic is in place now. Whatever economic success rest on economic policies of Obama and not Trump. Of course since the U.S. is racist to its core Trump, the great white hope, will get the credit which deservedly belongs to Obama.
3
Um.... No. The only credit this man should be given is for wasting the taxpayers hard earned money on causing complete chaos and then insisting on the chaos HE inflicted to be investigated. Well....and appointing unqualified people to his cabinet. And tweeting and golfing too much. Oh, and he should be credited for roiling his own party on the subject of health care. And that's all I have to say about that.
7
NO! thank President Obama! Predator Trump has done nothing but undo everything President Obama did to fix the mess. We will be right back where we started. It is just a matter of time for this inept Predator.
81
If the numbers were down he would have blamed O'bama. But, the numbers are up. Three weeks in office doesn't mean much. With over 200 more weeks to go (the horrors) in his presidency, this is pretty meaningless.
5
To answer the article's question, absolutely not.
16
No, Obama should.
8
Unfortunately, his ill-informed and simplistic - thinking hard core supporters will think he did it ALL!
2
"Should Trump Get Credit for Good Jobs Numbers?"
Only if you believe that companies will start hiring on the expectation of tax/repatriation legislation that most probably will not pass this year.
Will he take credit for it regardless?
This is a really hard question :-)
Only if you believe that companies will start hiring on the expectation of tax/repatriation legislation that most probably will not pass this year.
Will he take credit for it regardless?
This is a really hard question :-)
2
1. The number of job openings nationwide has been growing monthly for years and has been over 5 million for months, so I don't see how Trump played any hand in that.
For example, Scott Walker, over a month ago rolled out his plan to make people on welfare work for it, and claimed that for awhile employers had been complaining that they can't fill their job vacancies. (Quite a departure from what Republicans last campaigned on).
2. Trump cannot start taking credit for any good developments until he takes the blame for the bad:
Yemenghazi, the massive trade deficit, the huge reduction in American tourism, spiking hate crimes, Russian intrigue, and a worse swamp in DC than ever before, now leading to massive corruption and attacks on our environment and healthcare.
For example, Scott Walker, over a month ago rolled out his plan to make people on welfare work for it, and claimed that for awhile employers had been complaining that they can't fill their job vacancies. (Quite a departure from what Republicans last campaigned on).
2. Trump cannot start taking credit for any good developments until he takes the blame for the bad:
Yemenghazi, the massive trade deficit, the huge reduction in American tourism, spiking hate crimes, Russian intrigue, and a worse swamp in DC than ever before, now leading to massive corruption and attacks on our environment and healthcare.
6
This is a good analysis. Too many people want to spin these results one way or the other, and it's really too soon to tell.
Economic performance depends on lagged variables, current variables, and expectations of the future. We need additional data points and in-depth analysis to sort things out.
Economic performance depends on lagged variables, current variables, and expectations of the future. We need additional data points and in-depth analysis to sort things out.
2
It stands to reason that you would see a boost in corporate investment whenever a Republican president (and Congress) takes over, with promises of tax cuts and deregulation.
So yeah, Trump and the GOP Congress probably deserve credit for the cheery February numbers.
But when the inevitable downswing happens -- and it always happens -- they will deserve much of the blame.
Meanwhile, the other problems we get with the GOP in charge -- reduced health benefits, a weakened social safety net, a disregard for the poor and marginalized -- will be magnified by 1,000% when the economy heads south and unemployment rises.
So yeah, Trump and the GOP Congress probably deserve credit for the cheery February numbers.
But when the inevitable downswing happens -- and it always happens -- they will deserve much of the blame.
Meanwhile, the other problems we get with the GOP in charge -- reduced health benefits, a weakened social safety net, a disregard for the poor and marginalized -- will be magnified by 1,000% when the economy heads south and unemployment rises.
5
Dumb question. You know he'll take it.
So here's a better one: When he does, will you let him?
So here's a better one: When he does, will you let him?
2
And wait for the mood to sour when the policies don't bring the expected results - this is known as the 'Trump Bubble' followed by the 'Trump Crash'.
No more credit than Barack Obama his defeated ex-Sec State deserve for getting us completely out of Afghanistan closing Gitmo.
why ask the question? Trump will take credit for anything positive. Of course, he will not be accountable when the numbers go the other way, then it is time to blame someone!
1
The answer to your question:
NO.
NO.
My favorite part is how republicans like to have it both ways. First, they attack Obama right after November, 2008 for the horrible mess they just finished making of the economy, months before he even took office.
Then, to top that off, they take full credit for jobs created under Obama policies, before passing a single budget.
Gotta love those republicans.
Then, to top that off, they take full credit for jobs created under Obama policies, before passing a single budget.
Gotta love those republicans.
315
Unfortunately the president - any president -- gets to take credit for the economy-- and blame, too. The business cycle has not been repealed. Sooner or later job growth will slow and the economy will contract.
3
And anyway, if the numbers had been bad, he would have blamed on someone else.
37
Oh, of course he should. If I heard him correctly, he personally negotiated each and every one of the 235,000 jobs that were added in February. How DOES he find the time between tweeting and spending the weekends in Mar-A-Lago?
201
Future declines will, of course, be all Obama's fault.
14
Agreed, if two or four yrs from now, god forbid, we are in a great depression, Trump will blame it on Obama.
The man is a ego maniac demagogue and liar...
The man is a ego maniac demagogue and liar...
2
This article seems to suggest that the universe began on 20th Jan. There is no mention of any trends in employment figures. The latest numbers show a continuation of steady month on month growth for almost all the years of the previous administration. Perhaps, just perhaps, the current jobs numbers are an outgrowth of the policies of the previous administration.
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On the same team, but maybe read the whole thing before complaining:
"And it’s worth a reminder that the recent numbers are entirely consistent with the economy’s growth pattern for years. The 235,000 extra jobs that have Drudge and Mr. Trump so enthused are actually fewer than the results in four of the 12 months of 2016. The unemployment rate has hovered between 4.6 percent and 5 percent for 18 consecutive months, since September 2015."
Is something like that what you were looking for?
"And it’s worth a reminder that the recent numbers are entirely consistent with the economy’s growth pattern for years. The 235,000 extra jobs that have Drudge and Mr. Trump so enthused are actually fewer than the results in four of the 12 months of 2016. The unemployment rate has hovered between 4.6 percent and 5 percent for 18 consecutive months, since September 2015."
Is something like that what you were looking for?
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The added jobs and the lower unemployment rate has more to do with increased economic activity than with Trump being president.
The strong stock market adds to the economic picture simply because more money in the pockets of investors translates into more spending, on business activity such as new construction and refurbishments, and investments in equipment.
That leads to demand for workers to the job. And no one hired anyone because of who resides in the White House.
The strong stock market adds to the economic picture simply because more money in the pockets of investors translates into more spending, on business activity such as new construction and refurbishments, and investments in equipment.
That leads to demand for workers to the job. And no one hired anyone because of who resides in the White House.
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I will agree that there is a "Trump Bump" to the economy. However, I do not believe that this optimism can be sustained long term. Everything that Obama did over the last 8 years has led us to this point and justly he should get the credit. (Remember the doom and gloom predictions from the GOP about runaway inflation after stimulus? Never happened).
Trump's election has created a wave of optimism among business leaders that has added a splash of fuel to a fire that was already a strong and growing blaze. Sadly Trump and the GOP are poised to undo most of what has been done to stimulate this steady growth and the economy will not be able to sustain it. In fact, I suspect he and the GOP will throw a wet blanket over this roaring blaze and we will be the worse for it.
Trump's election has created a wave of optimism among business leaders that has added a splash of fuel to a fire that was already a strong and growing blaze. Sadly Trump and the GOP are poised to undo most of what has been done to stimulate this steady growth and the economy will not be able to sustain it. In fact, I suspect he and the GOP will throw a wet blanket over this roaring blaze and we will be the worse for it.
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A six month rule seems a reasonable approach for establishing a starting point for any new administration. Give the previous admin credit/blame through June and then start the clock on the new guys. It is still a much thornier question as to the impact of any policies but at least it gives a consistent benchmark.
But don't look for any consistency from the current occupants. Watch the narrative turn from chest-thumping to finger-pointing (toward the alleged shadow government) when the numbers start to turn in the other direction.
But don't look for any consistency from the current occupants. Watch the narrative turn from chest-thumping to finger-pointing (toward the alleged shadow government) when the numbers start to turn in the other direction.
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The tradition is a hundred days, not six months.
"So does Mr. Trump deserve any credit for solid economic results? If you think the economy is driven by concrete, specific policies around taxes, spending, monetary policy and regulation, the answer is no. If you think that what really matters is the mood in the executive suite, then just maybe."
There is a shortage of high tech workers at present so even if the executives at high tech firms did want to hire new workers they would be hard pressed to do so. Also we must all look to the future when more and more jobs will be lost to automation, and AI. But I'm not sure Mr Trump can look beyond the mirror.
There is a shortage of high tech workers at present so even if the executives at high tech firms did want to hire new workers they would be hard pressed to do so. Also we must all look to the future when more and more jobs will be lost to automation, and AI. But I'm not sure Mr Trump can look beyond the mirror.
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it likes what it sees in its own mirror, dorian gray
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