Econ70

Since capital punishment was reintroduced in the USA in 1977, about 1,400 people have been killed. The number of annual executions steadily rose through 2000, peaking at almost 100. Since then, the number of executions has declined annually except for…

The Friday File: In 2016, Americans, for the first time, consumed more bottled water than soda. Consumption of bottled water totaled 39.3 gallons/person, while soda consumption was 38.5 gallons/person. By revenue generated, soda is still tops at $39.5 billion compared…

While the VIX, the Wall Street fear index, is still very low at 16, it’s up from 10.96 on 3/3/17. While French elections, tensions with Russia and North Korea are all possible culprits, the driver is 4/28/17. Absent a budget…

Yesterday’s March housing data were good. While starts were down 6.8% compared to February’s outstanding weather-induced number, starts were up 9.2% compared to March 2016. Moreover, starts are up 8.1% year-to-date and were up about 8% each month this year…

Inflation-adjusted retail sales slumped in March and were no higher at the end of 17Q1 than they were on 12/31/16; their worst performance since mid-2012. Moreover, inflation as measured by the core CPI, which excludes food and energy, slumped for…

The Friday File: Excluding one-off and jewel-encrusted women’s footwear, the fourth most expensive off-the-rack women’s shoe is the Sexy Strass from Christian Louboutin, which retails for $3,095. Third most expensive is the 2011 Icons collection from Jimmy Choo at $3,785.…

While French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen looks very unlikely to win the French presidency, the rising popularity of far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon is trouble. In the past month, he’s risen from fifth to third in polling for the…

Throughout the 1950s, household wealth was roughly 3.7 times GDP. From 1960 through 1979 it steadily fell, bottoming at 3.2 times GDP. Since then, it’s steadily risen except during the 2001 recession and the Great Recession, when it declined. During…