Written by Anthony Demangone

I follow the economy as much as the next guy, I guess. 

For anyone trying to keep a finger on the pulse of the economy, good luck. And it certainly doesn't help when you read headlines.

Here's a recent one...

US jobless claims rise by 12,000

Now that doesn't sound good, does it? But here are unemployment claims since 1971. That chart tells a different story, doesn't it. 

A poor week or month tells a story, but not the whole story. Short-term results can blind you to long-term trends.