US Unemployment rate drops to 8.9 %, local hustle & bustle evident

The McDonald's on Guadalupe now has double ordering stations similar to ones shown above

The latest unemployment figures are out and they reflect the biggest drop in a 3-month period in a generation. This is exactly the type of news that the Tea Party Brotherhood did not want to hear. The most recent figures show a national unemployment rate of 8.9 per cent, down a full point since 3 months ago. Roughly 220,000 jobs were created across the United States during February. Even further good news is that job gains were seen across many sectors including manufacturing. Notably, as a  sure sign of the times, there was no increase in government jobs during the previous month.

Locally, the economy seems to be picking up some momentum as well.  The crowds of people are getting bigger at the local HEB's, Walmarts and at most restaurants as well.  Key economic indicators such as Richie's burgers on North Arkansas and Mr. Corn on Mcpherson are likewise trending upward . And even though the lines of customers at El Mejor Pan de Dulce never diminished, Panos and other local panaderias are now also enjoying an increase of patrons. Moreover, business at Laredo's Stripes and Speedy Stops is as brisk as ever as evidenced by the growing number of irate customers waiting in line. The McDonalds restaurant on Guadalupe has just added a second ordering lane signalling, that at least locally, Michelle Obama's war on obesity might have some trouble finding enlistees.