Labor statistics for July 2009 were released a few hours ago, and the news is encouraging.  The official national unemployment rate actually went down for the first time since April 2008 from 9.5% to 9.4%.  I see this as a sign that the big layoffs are slowing and may have finally stopped.  We may have reach the point where companies have become as lean as possible and are now prepared to grow again. Although the rate of growth may be slow for some time, growth is a positive direction!

The doomsayers are going to point toward flies in the ointment such as workers who have stopped looking for a job or those who are calling themselves employed even though they are only employed part-time.  Get into that mind-set, and it will trap you into negative thinking and less than positive action.

Yes, today's numbers are a positive sign that we may have taken the corner and are now positioned to turn this ship around.  Embrace it, and lean forward.  Why not?

As always, let us know if we can help.

- Lou G.