The Bowtie Economist's Daily Dose of 70-Word Wisdom

In 2016, China is aiming for GDP growth of 6.5% to 6.7%. While that’s way too high, China will make it happen. That means increasing the money supply and lending by a dangerously high 13% each, having a budget deficit…

Friday’s employment numbers showed 242,000 net new jobs and cumulative upward revisions of 30,000 for prior months. The labor force participation rate hit 62.9%, a level not exceeded since 3/14, and the unemployment rate was unchanged as discouraged workers keep…

The Friday File: The cheapest gasoline in the world is in Venezuela where it costs just 6 cents/gallon, Kuwait is next at 82 cents/gallon, followed by Saudi Arabia at 91 cents/gallon, and Turkmenistan at $1.08/gallon. The US is 20th cheapest…

If middle-class is defined as those earning between two-thirds and twice the national median income, in 2015 the 120.8 million middle-class adults were, for the first time, exceeded by the 121.3 million lower- and upper-income adults. In 1971, 61% of…

February auto sales hit an annualized rate of 17.5 million, a 16-year February high and are up 6.9% from 2/14. January construction spending rose 1.5% M-o-M and 10.4% Y-o-Y with residential, non-residential and public spending up 8%, 11% and 13%…

After a prolonged period of staggeringly low inflation, led by a strengthening dollar and declining energy prices, inflation is back! As measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditure index, the Fed’s preferred inflation index, inflation is 1.3%, and core inflation (which…

The Friday File: President Washington appointed 10 Supreme Court justices, followed by FDR with eight and Jackson with six. Three presidents made no Supreme Court appointments; Harrison, Andrew Johnson and Carter. William O. Douglas is the longest serving Justice at…

In 2006, the four biggest banks (J.P. Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup) collectively had $5.2 trillion in assets, 44% of all US bank assets. Today, those same four banks hold $8 trillion in assets or 51%…

In 9/08, the government took over Fannie and Freddie after investing $116 billion and $71.5 billion in them respectively. In exchange, the government initially took a 10% dividend on bailout monies and since 2012, against stockholders wishes, has been taking…