General Motors has come quite a ways from a couple years ago when it and Chrysler were receiving a bailout from the federal government. Unsustainable union contracts and some bad management decisions had put the companies in serious financial trouble, and GM, sadly, was long past the time when its condition could accurately be considered a barometer of our nation's overall economic health.
But now - happily - GM's fortunes appear to be on the rise. It has been reported that GM led all car companies by having a 49 percent jump in U.S. sales in February, as compared with February of 2010.
Other car sales were up, too. U.S. sales of Toyotas rose 42 percent. Nissan was up 32 percent, Hyundai was up 28, and Honda was up 22 percent from February the year earlier. Volkswagens - soon to be made in Chattanooga! - were up in sales, too, by 18 percent. Chrysler enjoyed a 13 percent increase, and Ford was up 10 percent.
Cars are important to us for a great deal more than transportation. Just consider all the steel, rubber, electronics, paint, upholstery and other things that go into cars - and the thousands of people who have jobs to make them.
And if Americans in general are able to buy more cars, then many Americans are doing well making them - which is good for everybody.
We want all of our people who want jobs to have them, to be earning paychecks, with dollars circulating to maintain a desirable standard of living.
So watch car sales.