Go Figure

   The U.S. economy is in good shape. More people are working, unemployment is down, and wages are rising.
   So if everything is looking good, one would think that the stock market would reflect all that good data and show rising values.
 That is, if action on Wall Street is indeed a barometer of American economic health. Instead, the stock market has plummeted the past few days.
   Why?  One would think that when things look good, the market would reflect that. If so, one would be mistaken.
   Reality check: Higher wages mean higher costs for a company, and that can mean lower profits. Investors are now happy about lower profits, however, because that means fewer dividends and a dip in stock value.
   A low jobless rate and rising wages often indicates a labor shortage, which can attract more workers from other areas. In this case, immigration. But the current government seems intent on closing the door to newcomers, in the name of "protecting" American jobs.
   The Law of Supply and Demand has not been repealed, and when there is a demand for more workers, people will answer the call. Meanwhile, wages rise as an incentive to attract more workers.
   But as wage costs rise, profits decline, prompting investors to put their money elsewhere, and stock market indicators suffer.
   Meanwhile, more workers have jobs in a healthy economy even as Wall Street complains.
   Go figure.