Friday, November 2, 2018

Question For Midterm Voters: Are You Better Off Than You Were Two Years Ago?

 President Reagan won a landslide election in 1980 when he asked voters a simple question: "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" Voters knew they weren't. Midterm voters should be asking themselves that same question now, before casting their ballots next Tuesday. Only this time, the answer is yes.
 
The latest evidence: The Labor Department reported this week that private sector wages and salaries rose 3.1% in the third quarter of this year, compared with last year. Total compensation, which includes things like health benefits, climbed 2.9%. Both growth rates are significantly faster than two years ago.

This was just the latest spate of good economic news. But there is plenty more. In fact, by almost any measure, the country is much better off than it was in November 2016.
Here's a rundown:

GDP Growth

In the first three quarters of 2016, quarterly GDP growth was an anemic 1.5%, 2.3% and 1.9%. This year, quarterly GDP growth has been a far more robust 2.2%, 4.2% and 3.5%.

Jobs and Unemployment

There are 4.3 million more private sector jobs than there were two years ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.


https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/are-you-better-off-economy-midterm-elections/

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