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• Keep in mind that we still have the bankruptcy of Chrysler and possibly GM. The job losses for these two firms have not been tallied yet.
• We know that Chrysler will close 789 dealerships.
• Manufacturing is still in a crisis mode. The estimates are for a loss of 150,000 jobs after losing 149,000 in April.
• With unemployment rising, it is only common sense that consumer spending is taking a hit. Purchases fell in April for the second straight month.
• Incomes declined for the sixth time in the last seven months.
• The Institute for Supply Management's factory index rose to 42 in May from 40.1 in April but it is still below 50. A reading below 50 signals contraction.

On the brighter side, manufacturers' orders placed with factories rose 0.8% in April, the second gain for the year. The Tempe Arizona-based group's gauge of non-manufacturing businesses most likely increased to 45 in May from 43.7 in April. Stocks have rallied with the S&P up 36% since March 9. Finally, Americans who signed contracts to buy previously owned homes rose in April for the third month in a row.

Well, now you are probably asking what does all this mean? A common sense answer would be that with unemployment rising, Americans have less money to spend and less purchases will continue to be a drag on the economy.

And one final note. We really don't have a reliable index to measure the hardships and misery that the nearly 6 million persons are going through.

With all of this, do you see the economy getting better?