Morning Journal-Comparing this recovery with those of the past

Economics

This Week’s Data

December personal income rose 0.5% versus expectations of a 0.4% increase’ personal spending was flat versus estimates of up 0.1%; the personal consumption expenditure index (inflation) was up 0.2% versus forecasts of up 0.1%.
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2012/01/personal-income-increased-05-in.html

Other

A look at the rate of recovery following recessions in the post war period (chart):
http://www.bespokeinvest.com/thinkbig/2012/1/27/recoveries-dont-get-much-weaker-than-this.html

More on the revisions to the leading economic indicator (medium):
http://advisorperspectives.com/dshort/guest/Dwaine-van-Vuuren-120129-The-New-CB-LEI.php

Monday morning humor (3 minute video):
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/friday-tragedy-us-debt-limit-explained

Politics

Domestic

Here is a key reason our education system doesn’t work (medium):
http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2012/01/what-obama-problaby-wont-mention-today.html

US manufacturing is doing fine without Obama’s help (medium):
http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2012/01/american-manufacturing-already-has.html

News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

More earnings per share reports:

Reported Expected

Chevron $2.58 $2.96
Qualcomm .90 .88

Steve Cook received his education in investments from Harvard, where he earned an MBA, New York University, where he did post graduate work in economics and financial analysis and the CFA Institute, where he earned the Chartered Financial Analysts designation in 1973. His 40 years of investment experience includes institutional portfolio management at Scudder, Stevens and Clark and Bear Stearns. Steve's goal at Strategic Stock Investments is to help other investors build wealth and benefit from the investing lessons he learned the hard way.