[ramchip]

In war time, the economy appears to stall, since the growth is concentrated in war-related products which do not influence indicators like the consumer price index. After the war ends, the industry goes back to normal and the CPI `catches up', making it look like the war boosted economic growth.

That's how we explained it when I studied economics, at least IIRC.

Edit: just noticed the website name. "The Christian Science Monitor". I feel slightly cheated.

[gjm11]

I don't think the performance of the stock market varies depending on whether the person reading the numbers is a Christian Scientist. If it did, that would be even more remarkable and weird than if Christian Science were correct in, e.g., its claims about disease.

(For the avoidance of doubt: No, I am not a Christian Scientist.)