Page 14-Thursday, July 31, 1980-The Michigan Daily
S TATE JOBLESS RA TE STILL HIGH
0
Economic outlook
From UPI and AP
The government's barometer of future economic
trends marked its highest increase in five years in
June, the Commerce Department reported in
Washington yesterday - a development that could
pave the way for a recovery from the current
recession.
But officials in Lansing said yesterday an influx of
summer job seekers boosted the jobless rate in nine
of Michigan's 13 major labor market areas and
caused unemployment in hard-hit Flint to top 23 per
cent.
THE MICHIGAN Employment Security Comj-
mission reported slight declines in jobless levels,
however, in four labor markets including the state's
largest, the six-county Detroit metropolitan area.
MESC officials said the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area
reported a 10.4 per cent unemployment rate in June,
up from 9.9 per cent in May. The statewide June
unemployment rate of 14 per cent - unchanged from
May's figure - was announced by state officials
earlier this month.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Philip Klutznik said he
was "encouraged" by the 2.5 per cent increase in the
Index of Leading Economic Indicators in June, but
cautioned that output and employment are likely to
decline further before growth resumes later this
year.
THE JUNE INCREASE followed 12 straight mon-
thly declines in the index, including a steep 2.3 per
cent drop in May and a record 3.9 per cent decline in
April. Both the April and May figures were revised
upward slightly from previous reports.
The index now stands at 126.9 of its 1967 base of 100.
Analysts in and out of government said the increase
suggests the current economic downturn is starting
to bottom out - but they were not ready to confirm
the recession has hit bottom.
brighter
KLUTZNICK SAID the administration is working
on tax policies and other measures for next year that
are designed "to foster stronger growth while still
permitting further progress against inflation."
Robert Gough, an analyst with Data Resources
Inc., said the June index "may show the worst is
behind us." He, too, cautioned against over-optimism
on the basis of one month's figures.
However, Gough added, "Thekey thing about the
whole index is that this month's figures should not be
viewed as an aberration or a fluke."
The leading indicators, taken in conjunction with
other recent reports, "suggests the worst of the
recession is over," said Lawrence Chimerine, chief
economist with Chase Econometrics in Philadelphia.
"What this tells us is that the recession is in its
secondary stages where it is still sagging but is no
longer in a state of free fall," said Alan Greenspan,
former economic adviser to President Gerald Ford
and now a private consultant in New York.
4
Court
rebuffs
privacy
right suit
LANSING- (UPI)-The Michigan
Court of Appeals rebuffed yesterday a
couple who claimed insurance in-
vestigators violated their privacy by
posing as welfare officials in order to
question neighbors about their personal
life.
The court upheld a Washtenaw Coun-
ty court order dismissing the suit,
saying Esta and Paul Bauer failed to
prove the investigators' conduct
amounted to illegal invasion of privacy
or slander.
The suit charged insurance agents
investigating the woman's workers'
compensation claim represented them-
selves as officials of a welfare or em-
ployment agency. The agents inter-
viewed six neighbors, falsely claiming
the Bauers had applied for public
assistance, the suit charged.
THE APPEALS court noted privacy
invasion can involve intrusion on
private matters, disclosure of em-
barrassing facts, or adverse publicity.
It said the agents' questions about the
woman's ability to work, home life,
character and reputation did not in-
trude on her private affairs.
While queries about her "home life"
created a close question, opinions of
neighbors are "not of a sufficiently
private nature to create a cause of ac-
tion for intrusion," the court said.
It added a criminal action for imper-
sonating a government agent might
have been possible..
The court also said private facts
about the couple were not widely
disseminated and said the two were not
defamed since, under the circumstan-
ces, "no stigma would attach to plain-
tiffs' seeking some form of public
assistance."
6
I
I
APrProoo
Quick drink
Moses, a quarter horse from Plantation, Florida, gets help cooling off in the form of a garden hose sprayed in the
face after a ride in the south Florida heat. Temperatures there reached the 94s yesterday.
AFTER 5 YEARS, THOUSANDS OF TIPS:
Hoffa ease stil mystery
DETROIT (UPI) - The news broke the mid-summer tment tried to use alleged criminal activities of Hoffa
calm like a sudden storm. associates and'those believed involved in his disappearance
It was July 30, 1975. Ex-Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa as levers to pry out the truth.
had been abducted from the parking lot of a suburban Detroit Five major figures linked to the case have gone to prison
restaurant. and two others have died, but investigators are no closer to
IN A WORD, Hoffa had vanished. And yesterday, on the learning what happened to Hoffa after he was last seen at the
fifth anniversary of his disappearance, the question of what Machus Red Fox restaurant in Bloomfield Township.
happened to the once powerful labor leader persisted. Anthony said the FBI is still hoping someone finally star-
Despite thousands of tips and one of the most intensive ts talking.
investigations in FBI history, the agency concedes it is no "IT'S (THE SOLUTION) going to come from somebody
closer to solving the mystery than it was five years ago. involved, but knowing what happened - coming forward,"
But the FBI insists it hasn't given up. Anthony said.
"We're still hopeful of solving this matter," Detroit FBI The unsolved case still troubles Hoffa's family. But Hof-
spokesman John Anthony said Tuesday. But he added, fa's son, labor lawyer James P. Hoffa, said he hopes the FBI
"We're no closer to solving that case than we were five years strategy will eventually work.
ago." "I would say that if that is the status of the investigation,
THE CASE FILLS eight file cabinets in the Detroit FBI Iam pleased," Hoffa said. "I really hope their efforts turn up
office. That's 250 volumes of interviews, tips, depositions, something."
field reports, newspaper clippings, and spin-off in- But Hoffa's son. said the anniversary of his father's
vestigations, Anthony said. disappearance is becoming an increasingly trying date for
"It's a bigger file than any other case I can think of," he the family. This year, he said, there will be no cameras in his
said. office and no interviews.
Federal officials have said the case will not be closed until "It is still on my mind. It is on my mind all the time," he
every reasonable lead has been investigated. said. "There is not a day that passes that I don't think about
IN AN EFFORT to crack} the ease, theJustice Depar- thatzase" .
a
I
II