What Recovery? State and Local Governments Not Sharing in the Economic Optimism

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Joseph StefkoAt long last, we’ve been treated to a streak of positive news on the U.S. economy.  Job growth continues, with 227,000 added in February and 900,000 over the past five months; the application rate for jobless benefits now stands at a four-year low; and the unemployment rate has fallen from 9.0 to 8.3 in a year.  And while the sharp decline in the unemployment rate appears to have slowed in the past three months, there’s even a silver lining there as more people resumed their search for work in the face of a better employment outlook (about 500,000 in February).  It’s tough to argue that’s anything but good news.

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