Third Quarter GDP Indicates Little Hope for Better Times

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Friday, economists expect the Commerce Department to report the economy grew 1.9% in the third quarter, continuing a subpar recovery that began in July 2009.

Consumer spending has been slowed by concerns about the effectiveness of President Obama's economic policies and pessimism about future improvements. The president leads in polls in most swing states, and has made clear his intention to double down on economic policies of the last four years.

The huge trade deficit continues to drag on demand for U.S. goods and services and limit jobs creation. Administration curbs on domestic oil production and failure to address Chinese currency manipulation -- the principal causes of the gapping $525 billion trade deficit -- blow a huge hole in domestic demand, slow growth and pose the threat of a second recession.

The likely end to temporary payroll tax reductions and Bush era tax cuts for families over $250,000 will only exacerbate these problems.

The president inherited an economic mess but so, too, did Ronald Reagan. During Reagan's first term, unemployment peaked at 10.8% in contrast to 10% during Obama's tenure.

Reagan cut taxes, followed through on deregulation initiated by President Carter, and put his bets on the private sector -- encouraged domestic energy development and private investment. When the Gipper faced the voters, the economy was growing at 6.3%.

Obama has shut down much offshore and Alaskan oil production, invested in failing alternative energy projects, and emphasized heavy regulation and state direction of the economy -- his growth rate during the current recovery is 2.2%. That is hardly enough to accommodate productivity and population growth, and certainly not enough to put many millions of jobless Americans back to work.

During Reagan's first term, optimism caused more Americans to seek jobs. The percentage of adults participating in the labor force rose and unemployment fell to 7.3% by election day.

Since Obama took office, record numbers of Americans have become discouraged and quit looking for work, and the unemployment rate has not fallen nearly as much as it did for Reagan. It stands at 7.8% and few economists expected it to fall much further.

1 2 Next › Last »