Are the UK/US economies really booming?

[the truth]

Almost every econ omic indicator says so, so why doesnt it feel like its booming

Both stock markets are way up...dow jones up 1000 points since trump thats 5% worth 100s of billions...since brexit its up even more nearer 10%

The unemployment rate is down to a record 4.4% the lowest in the us for over a decade...trumps reign has seen a net gian of nearly 500,000 jobs

In the uk unemployment is down again to 4.7% the growth in gdp is up and exceeded predictions

The stock markets are up a whopping 22% 27% and 33% since brexit

The pound has risen after a big fall, its now back to 1.29 thats a fall of 13% since brexit

The steel industry has made a miraculous comeback

BUT scratch the surface and wages have stagnated for many years, disposable incomes for the working classes have fallen and the gap between rich and poor is the highest since maggie thatcher milk snatcher rode into power and smashed society

[Toy Soldier]

No. The money is rising to the top and stagnating there just as much as (if not more than) it always has and the figures for jobs mean absolutely nothing if the bulk of those jobs are low hours contracts, on low wages. Stock markets show absolutely nothing when it comes to distribution of wealth; it shows that there is plenty of money in total floating around the markets... but that's totally irrelevant if the bulk of that money is controlled by a small number of people.

[lostalex]

I don't see why you are tying the two together. They are very separate. The US is doing much better than the UK.

[the truth]

I don't see why you are tying the two together. They are very separate. The US is doing much better than the UK.

Glad you're pleased with trump

[DemolitionRed]

Almost every econ omic indicator says so, so why doesnt it feel like its booming

Both stock markets are way up...dow jones up 1000 points since trump thats 5% worth 100s of billions...since brexit its up even more nearer 10%

The unemployment rate is down to a record 4.4% the lowest in the us for over a decade...trumps reign has seen a net gian of nearly 500,000 jobs

In the uk unemployment is down again to 4.7% the growth in gdp is up and exceeded predictions

The stock markets are up a whopping 22% 27% and 33% since brexit

The pound has risen after a big fall, its now back to 1.29 thats a fall of 13% since brexit

The steel industry has made a miraculous comeback

BUT scratch the surface and wages have stagnated for many years, disposable incomes for the working classes have fallen and the gap between rich and poor is the highest since maggie thatcher milk snatcher rode into power and smashed society

You only have to look at 'The Manifesto for tax justice' to see what's gone wrong http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Documents/Manifesto.pdf


1. The biggest ever tax gap in history.
2. The lowest number of staff ever employed by HM Revenue and Customs.
3. The lowest effective rates of corporation tax in its history.
4. Low levels of tax for its banks.
5. High levels of corporate tax avoidance.
6. Significant errors in tax administration.

Your note about low unemployment is right. The problem is, when you get rid of one full time job and replace it with four part time zero hour contract positions, those staff are unlikely to pay tax (and of course, tax is what gives the government revenue) but three more people are employed so it looks good on the Tory employment statistics!

[Toy Soldier]

Your note about low unemployment is right. The problem is, when you get rid of one full time job and replace it with four part time zero hour contract positions, those staff are unlikely to pay tax (and of course, tax is what gives the government revenue) but three more people are employed so it looks good on the Tory employment statistics!

I've never actually thought about that one before but you're totally right :think:.

One employee working 40 hours earning £22k will pay a nice chunk of tax on that £22k. Two employees working 20 hours earning £11k each will pay zero tax.

I've thought about it from the taxpayer perspective before, as it's likely that my youngest will need "full time parenting" (at least one of us to be home at all times) for a long time, if not forever. However because of how tax works, if we were to end up with similar incomes, it would make more financial sense for both of us to work part-time on opposite days than for one of us to work full time and one to be full time carer. Simply because both of us working part time would pay far less tax than one working full time. The exact same combined salary = a significant amount more in take-home pay.

[DemolitionRed]

I've never actually thought about that one before but you're totally right :think:.

One employee working 40 hours earning £22k will pay a nice chunk of tax on that £22k. Two employees working 20 hours earning £11k each will pay zero tax.

I've thought about it from the taxpayer perspective before, as it's likely that my youngest will need "full time parenting" (at least one of us to be home at all times) for a long time, if not forever. However because of how tax works, if we were to end up with similar incomes, it would make more financial sense for both of us to work part-time on opposite days than for one of us to work full time and one to be full time carer. Simply because both of us working part time would pay far less tax than one working full time. The exact same combined salary = a significant amount more in take-home pay.

It makes perfect sense to do that TS and its very much a case of needs must.

I'm about to send you a pm btw.