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THIS STORY IS SCORED

The Entertainer

Kevin MacLeod · incompetech.com · CC BY 4.0

Note the structure: a sentiment survey of purchasing managers is promoted to proof of the hottest economy on earth, and every number that might complicate the story is handled by declaring it a media plot. The triumphant list is a list of non-events — the bad thing didn't happen, therefore credit — which is the logic of a man taking a bow because the ceiling stayed up. Best of all is the carve-out asking you to ignore one president's growth as predictable rebound while treating his own as destiny, plus a promise that gas prices will come down, conveniently dated never. If things are this good, the celebration shouldn't require instructions on which figures to disregard.