Economics and Investing:

George Gordon (“GG”) sent this news item: Largest-ever federal payroll to hit 2.15 million

Also from GG comes this link to a Seeking Alpha piece: U.S. Economy: Don’t Worry, Prosperity Is Just Around the Corner

Yet another from GG: Rising FHA default rate foreshadows a crush of foreclosures

Reader JDD spotted this over at The Daily Beast: The Dollar’s Scary Decline

Also from JDD: Obama’s Budget Has One Small, Missing Piece…. For $6.3 Trillion Dollars

Items from The Economatrix:

US January Auto Sales Rise

Unemployment Rises in Most Metro Areas

Roubini Sees “Very Dismal and Poor” US Growth Ahead

Bernanke Voices Economic Concerns as He is Sworn In

Deficit Brings US Closer to Brink of Bankruptcy

Colorado Springs Cuts Basic Services. More than 1/3 of streetlights to go dark on Monday, and that’s just the start.

No Help In Sight, More Homeowners Walk Away

The First Country to Leave the Euro? What About Germany?

US Deepening Debt Crisis, Be Afraid of Bernanke Reappointment

Growing Bubble in Commercial Real Estate; CRE Losses Could Wipe Out Banking System