Mild winter may help boost the economy

Some economists give credit for the improving economy to Washington, others to the stock market and still more to the long-awaited bottoming of the housing market, USA Today reported.

Others say the key is the weather.

The nation's mild winter has added thousands of jobs this year, boosting crucial businesses such as construction and auto sales.

The question is whether this is a coincidence, as good weather and an improving economy arrive at the same time, or whether the weather effect is the main factor behind the better-than-expected run of recent economic news.

Some things aren't in doubt. The January unemployment report said that about 206,000 people were out of work because of bad weather, compared with 424,000 workers who normally face weather-related layoffs in January.

Read the full report here.

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