The recovery is proceeding, but gradually, and that's actually healthy. It's the kind of recovery central bankers dream of -- gradual, not explosive, and therefore long-lasting and sustainable.

Now, with the economic recovery appearing to be somewhat in place and the central bank not lowering rates, we see people trying to get in at the gates before rates start to rise.

I think this is an important first step for the central bank. They didn't want to lower rates too aggressively for fear of sending a signal to the markets that they thought things were completely falling apart.

The orders component should jump out and catch your eye, ... We're still in expansion mode, and recovery is in no jeopardy of derailing, but it's not racing away from us.

These jobless claims figures strongly suggest that any discussion of a runaway economic recovery have been greatly exaggerated. Instead, what we see here is a recovery that continues to face significant headwinds emanating from the employment front.

These jobless claims figures strongly suggest that any discussion of a runaway economic recovery have been greatly exaggerated, ... Instead, what we see here is a recovery that continues to face significant headwinds emanating from the employment front.