Recession may be the economic word of the year, but the actual numbers aren’t showing recession. The 2nd Quarter Gross Domestic Product numbers came out and the economy continued to grow, this time at a stronger pace than last quarter – 1.9 percent.

Although negative descriptions like “credit crunch” or “housing crisis” line the new stories, here is some positive feedback on the economy. Click here to read the story on MarketWatch, GPD accelerates to 1.9% pace in second quarter.

“The economy is in a perilous state, said Joel Prakken, chief economist for Macroeconomic Advisers, ahead of the report. The impact of the stimulus checks is positive but fading, he said, while businesses are cautious, and credit remains tight.”

Recession or not, it’s a great time to pull a free credit report to see what you can do to improve your ability to improve your credit in a “tight-credit” environment. Free Credit Reports – Trial Offer.

President Bush signed a landmark housing bill that is good news for first-time home buyers. Those who purchase a home for the first time from April 9, 2008 to July 1, 2009 will receive a tax credit of $7,500. This bill is predicted to increase the housing demand, and get those thinking about purchasing a home some added incentive to purchase the home this year. Consumers can refer to this site, www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com for answers to questions about the tax credit and how you can take advantage of the program.

If you are serious about getting into a home during this time, here is some additional information for first-time home buyers, Home Loan Tips

Read the story at MarketWatch; President Bush Signs Landmark Housing Bill.

Did you know that a bad credit score can cost you a good job?

Most all Americans know that improving credit scores can lead to a
lower rate on home or auto loans, but did you know that having a bad
credit score can cost you that job you’ve been competing for? Now more
than ever, it’s important to keep your credit score high and free of
inaccurate items that can negatively impact your credit score. Many
employers are using your credit score as a screening tool to measure
your character and ability to manage finances. Whether this practice
is fair to the applicant is up for debate but many companies use some
sort of background check which may include a credit check. So before
you start applying for that highly competitive job, maybe it’s time
you clean up your credit reports first.

You can read more: How Bad Credit Can Affect Job Prospects

Also note that future employers are not the only ones who dig up that
report as a risk indicator. Insurance companies have been doing this
for quite some time. Read more: Insurance Companies Care About Credit