Back in 1983, singer Ann Murray had a hit single, “We sure could use a little good news today.” A Little Good News-Ann Murray (Original 1983 Video). 30 years later this song still resonates.
The “nattering nabobs of negativism” in the media, as William Safire once dubbed them, always focus on the negative and rarely on the positive.
This is not entirely fair as there has been some very positive reporting on economic news recently. The problem is that it does not seem to get reported here in Arizona. I’ll leave it up to you to decide why that is.
So here are some good news headlines you may have missed in the past two weeks.
New York Times
U.S. Economy’s Spring Rebound Was Even Faster Than Thought
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
After a dismal winter the economy grew at a 4.6 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter, a sign that growth will likely remain solid for rest of the year.
Buoyant Dollar Underlines Resurgence in U.S. Economy
By LANDON THOMAS JR.
The dollar extended its new reign as the preferred currency for global investors, helped by healthy data on growth and signals from the Fed that it will soon stop its bond-buying program.
Number of Children Living in Poverty Drops Sharply, Census Bureau Reports
By ROBERT PEAR
The number of American children living in poor households fell by 1.4 million in 2013, a report says.
Number of Americans Without Health Insurance Falls, Survey Shows
By SABRINA TAVERNISE
Federal researchers found that the number of uninsured declined substantially in the first quarter of this year.
Health Care Act Still Covers 7.3 Million
By ROBERT PEAR
The Obama administration said 7.3 million of those who enrolled had paid their premiums and still had coverage, the vast majority paying less than $100 a month.
HealthCare.gov Is Given an Overhaul
By ROBERT PEAR
Federal health officials said the shorter application on HealthCare.gov has fewer pages and fewer screens to navigate, and allows people to sign up with fewer clicks.
With New Health Law, Shopping Around Can Be Crucial
THE UPSHOT By MARGOT SANGER-KATZ and AMANDA COX
In the Affordable Care Act marketplaces so far, insurance filings show good news for the federal budget and aggressive shoppers.
Under Affordable Care Act, 25 Percent Increase in Health Insurers Is Predicted
By ROBERT PEAR
The Obama administration released preliminary data on insurers that have indicated they want to participate next year in the insurance exchanges.
Affordable Care Act Reduces Costs for Hospitals, Report Says
By ROBERT PEAR
Financial reports from investor-owned hospitals and surveys by several state hospital associations show that Medicaid expansion has reduced the number of patients who cannot pay their bills.
In Context, Health Premium Increases Don’t Actually Look Like Increases
THE UPSHOT By MARGOT SANGER-KATZ
When inflation and the cost of old insurance markets are considered, the premiums available to consumers willing to shop around are remarkably low.
Study Finds Small-Business Health Plans Are Cheaper on SHOP
By ROBB MANDELBAUM
But a researcher who produced the data could not explain why.
Number of Student Loans in Default Declines
By RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA
It was the first drop in the default rate in years, but 21 schools still have rates so high that they could be barred from federal loan and grant programs.
Rise in New-Home Sales Bolsters Outlook for U.S. Housing Market
By REUTERS
Sales of new single-family homes surged in August to a six-year high.
U.S. Acts to Curb Firms’ Moves Overseas to Avoid Taxes
By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS
The rules would make it more difficult for American companies to lower their tax bills by relocating overseas and would wipe out the benefits for those that do
Washington Post
Economy grew at 4.6 percent rate in April-June
Associated Press
After a dismal winter, the U.S. economy expanded at an annual rate of 4.6 percent in the spring, the fastest pace in more than two years.
Study: Obamacare’s employer exchanges lower costs
J.D. Harrison
Delays and technical problems aside, rates are lower on the small business marketplaces than off of them.
More insurers line up to sell Obamacare plans in 2015, HHS says
WONKBLOG Jason Millman
That shows proof Obamacare is working, administration officials say.
Health costs increasing at a slower clip for businesses
J.D. Harrison
Question is, will that continue once the health care law’s new rules for employers take effect?
Child poverty is finally declining for the first time since 2000
WONKBLOG Emily Badger
And other takeaways from new Census Bureau data on American income and poverty.
National student loan default rate declines to 13.7 percent
Nick Anderson
Rate fell one percentage point compared to a year ago; government says the figure is still “too high.”
Treasury officials unveil new rules to tackle inversions
Lori Montgomery
Regulations aimed at discouraging corporations from moving their headquarters abroad to avoid taxes.