The White House Is Copy and Pasting Its Way Through the Jobs Recovery
Official statements have started the same way for a year.
If it works, why change it? This seems to be the White House's thinking when it reacts to monthly jobs numbers.
Since last July, Alan Kruger, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, has opened each of his statements in the same fashion:
While more work remains to be done, today's employment report provides further confirmation that the U.S. economy is continuing to recover from the worst downturn since the Great Depression. It is critical that we remain focused on pursuing policies to speed job creation and expand the middle class, as we continue to dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession that began in December 2007.
While the jobs figures change each month, this copy-and-paste reaction doesn't. Need more proof? Here's June, May, April, March, January, December, November, October, September, August and July.
Krueger did deviate once since last July. In reaction to February jobs numbers, he just used this line:
While more work remains to be done, today's employment report provides evidence that the recovery that began in mid-2009 is gaining traction.
These tried-and-true words may not last, however. With Krueger leaving his post to return to academia, his successor, Jason Furman, may change things up a bit.
(Image via kropic1/Shutterstock.com)