Snapshot of the economy

Jesse Jackson, speaking at the media reform conference in Madison last week said, "Growth without jobs is like a swimming pool without water." While some economic indicators are inching upward, the ones that most affect the average American aren't. First-time jobless claims rose by 13,000 last week, while the total number of unemployed workers increased by 49,000 to 3.53 million in the week ended Nov. 1. And personal bankruptcies have hit a record high, rising 7.8 percent in fiscal 2003 to 1.63 million.