MORE CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN – AT 8:01 P.M. ET:  The latest economic news, and it won't encourage you to go out and buy a buggy:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment insurance unexpectedly surged last week, while producer prices increased sharply in January, raising potential hurdles for the economy's recovery.

Initial claims for state jobless benefits increased 31,000 to 473,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Financial markets had expected them to fall slightly to 430,000.

Another report from the department showed prices paid at the farm and factory gate rose a faster-than-expected 1.4 percent from December as higher gasoline prices and unusually cold temperatures helped boost energy costs.

The rise in jobless insurance claims dealt a setback to hopes the economy was on the verge of job growth and could increase political pressure on President Barack Obama, who has made tackling unemployment his number one priority.

COMMENT:  And the president has tackled unemployment the best way he knows how – by going around the country making campaign speeches.  Notice the people rushing back to new jobs. 

February 18, 2010