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Fundamentally speaking...

It's been a couple of weeks since we've heard anybody say 'The fundamentals of the economy are sound.'

Perhaps because they might not *be *all that sound. Yes, gross domestic product grew last quarter. But unemployment's at 6.1 percent. The economy has lost 605-thousand jobs since the beginning of the year. Consumer spending is down and consumer confidence is bouncing around record lows.

I mention that because with the credit crisis and all it's been easy to lose sight of some of the indicators that otherwise would be getting a lot of play. But that's going to change in the next day or so, bailout or not.

The September unemployment report's due on Friday. A private poll out today showed it's going to be another month of lost jobs.

About the author

Kai Ryssdal is the host and senior editor of Marketplace, public radio’s program on business and the economy. Follow Kai on Twitter @kairyssdal.