Who's Been Raising Their Dividends in this Terrible Economy?

We keep hearing in the new about how bad the economy is and the imminent fiscal cliff and either how we may be going into a recession, or we are just starting a recession, or we have been in a recession for the last six months. If times are so bad, why are stocks continuing to raise their dividends? Are we at the 'bottom' of the bad times?

If you think higher dividends are indicative of better things to come, then maybe you should examine some of these companies that have boosted their dividends, some by substantial amounts.

OGE Energy Corporation (OGE) has increased its quarterly dividend by 6.37%

The Walt Disney Company (DIS) declared a 25% hike in the firm's annual dividend

Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (GBCI) Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend increase 8%

Seagate Technology plc (STX) announced a 19% dividend increase

Costco approved a special dividend of $7 a share

Financial Institutions, Inc. (FISI) announced that its Board of Directors has approved a 14% increase in its quarterly cash dividend

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc . (ARE) increased its quarterly dividend by 5.7%