Month: October 2024

Far from being a leading or coincident economic indicator, the unemployment rate is a lagging economic indicator. Here’s why. In a downturn, firms first stop posting jobs and then stop hiring. If things worsen, employers will reduce headcount through attrition…

The longshoremen strike from Maine through Texas shouldn’t be underestimated. As a supply-side shock, this will raise prices, but the Fed will ignore this as rate hikes won’t influence either side in this negotiation. Estimates put the economic cost of…

While Hurricane Katrina’s inflation-adjusted damage and economic losses exceeded $300 billion, and Ian, Sandy, and Harvey were all about $200 billion, initial estimates, which are likely to rise, put the impact of Hurricane Helene at $150 billion, making it the…