Contradiction

[WatchManUSA]

Are these 2 headlines contradictory ? I am posting them in the same order they appeared in Yahoo news

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100125/ap_on_bi_ge/us_nabe_survey

Economic survey: Slow recovery continues

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100125/ap_on_bi_ge/us_home_sales

December home sales down nearly 17 percent

Doesn't sound like recovery to me.

It is part of the "narrative" that MB had in his blog the other day.  The media is beating the drum and trying to sell us the idea that the economy is growing.  Home sales being down feeds the narrative that home buyers need additional help (our money) to buy homes.

[tt11758]

I program for 1st time buyers expired in early december, I think it was.

Nov. home sales were inflated with folks jumping to take advantage of the deal, so Dec. sales took a relative drop...have no idea how they looked compared to Oct. sales.

While that's true, there is now in effect a program for ANYONE who buys a home.  Doesn't have to be a FTB to qualify, so that pretty much offsets what you're talking about.