Webster’s says the word “dissemble” means “to pretend”, or “to assume a false appearance”. That’s the word that popped into our mind when we read the following headline:

The Washington Post (April 10, 2009) – “On Economy, Obama Sees Glimmers of Hope and Signs of Progress”.

Here are some contradictory “glimmers” and “signs” that we’re reading about, however.

From The American Shipper –
• Boeing slows large aircraft production
• Ship scrapping expected to go on a tear in coming years

From The Journal of Commerce –
• Box ship order book falls to 18 month low, but capacity glut growing fast
• Ship Orders in Japan Sink 47 Percent
• Box Imports Fall Below 1 Million
• Ocean Carriers Must Cut More
• NOL Expects 1Q, Full Year Loss
• OOCL Revenue Drops 31 Percent in 1Q
• Landstar Profit Falls 41 Percent
• Credit Report Downgrades 28 Nations
• Retail Sales Dive 9.4 Percent
• Industrial Capacity Hits All Time Low
• Eurogate Traffic Drops at Key Terminals
• Antwerp Cargo Plummets 19 Percent

From Lloyd’s List –
• Lines Slow to Lay Up Biggest Containerships
• Drewry Says Box Carriers Must Cull Fleet to Survive

From Bloomberg.com –
• Cosco Pacific Second-Half Profit Falls 56% on Year-Ago Gains

From Yahoo! NEWS –
• California Unemployment Rises to Record 11.2 Percent

From The New York Times –
• Retail and Price Data Show Ongoing Economic Weakness
• Bankruptcy Fuels Fear Over Preakness

[The word “dissemble” pretty much sums it up, wouldn’t you agree?]