Your Thursday Afternoon Dose of Doom & Gloom

Sigh:

The number of planned layoffs at U.S. firms surged in August to their highest in half a year, with industrial goods manufacturers the hardest hit, a report on Thursday showed.

Employers announced 50,462 layoffs last month, up 33.8 percent from 37,701 in July, according to the report from consultants Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

I’m all out of clever on these stories. But then I remember that we’re stuck with Professor Ditherton Wiggleroom for the next three and a half years, so at least I’m all stocked up on anger and grief.