Views & Opinions — Even Jay Powell doesn't believe the jobs numbers

View Online  Views & Opinions Views & Opinions One Key Op-ed  So why should we?  Do you believe the U.S. added 272,000 jobs in May? "If not, you have plenty of company," writes opinion contributor Liz Peek. Even the Federal Reserve chairman questions the government's estimate. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The government has been fiddling with the numbers for months.   "Job gains have now been revised down for 10 months in 2023, by a monthly average of 51,000," writes Peek. "This year the overstatements have continued, as have the revisions."   The May report "made no sense. Estimates hovered around 185,000; the reported number was 272,000, up from 165,000 in April."   Numerous other indicators cast a skeptical light on these numbers. And "since the gurus at the Federal Reserve rely on the data to determine the course of interest rates and, in effect, the economy, that the numbers appear to be so out of whack is troubling."   Trust in government is down to 23 percent in a recent poll. "A dishonest White House takes the blame," Peek writes, "but having the economic bean counters issue confusing and unreliable data doesn't help."   Read the op-ed at TheHill.com. Welcome to The Hill's Views & Opinions newsletter, it's Friday, June 14. I'm Daniel Allott, bringing together a collection of key opinion pieces published from a wide range of voices. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Other Points of View  Op-eds exploring key issues affecting the U.S. and world: What's wrong with a little revenge? By Mick Mulvaney, former chief of staff to President Trump What is the difference between "payback" or "a revenge-a-thon," and simply applying the same standards to other elected officials that have now been applied to Trump?  Read Here Justice Alito knows which side he's on By Andrew Koppelman, John Paul Stevens Professor of Law at Northwestern University Alito seems to construe his role not as that of a judge, but as an advocate. He zealously represents his clients. If one side is going to win, he knows which side he is on.  Read Here Mr. President, please pardon Trump for the country's—and your own—good By Paul E. Peterson, professor of government at Harvard University Donald Trump may well deserve a jail term. Some of my closest friends hold that heart-felt belief. I do not seek to dissuade them. But a pardon is neither an exoneration nor a finding of innocence. It is an act of mercy. In Portia's words, "it falleth like the gentle rain from heaven on the place beneath."  Read Here What's to lose with a second Trump presidency? Here's a list. By Donna Brazile, political strategist Just as Benedict Arnold sought to keep the 13 colonies subservient to the rule of King George III, Trump wants to keep the United States subservient to his own rule — no matter what voters decide.   Read Here Quick Takes  Opinions related to pivotal issues and figures in the news: Capitol vapors: the laughably fake outrage over Justice Alito Why evangelicals won't abandon Trump after his conviction  Rishi Sunak's epic blunder Whither the working class?   You're all caught up. See you next time!  Views expressed by contributors are theirs and not the opinion of The Hill. Interested in submitting an op-ed? Click here.  Check out The Hill's Opinion section online for the latest and take a moment to view our other topical products 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  1625 K Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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