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


Supreme Seats

03/24/2017

The Friday File: While it’s been 404 days since the death of Antonin Scalia, the longest Supreme Court vacancy isn’t in jeopardy. That record is 841 days and ended when Robert Grier took Henry Baldwin’s seat on 8/10/1846. However, since…

Quality Quits

03/23/2017

In yet another sign that the labor market has largely recovered, in January 2017 the percentage of the labor force that voluntarily quit their job was 2.2%, or 3.2 million workers. That was the highest rate since September 2005, when,…

Residential markets robust in pockets of Michigan

03/23/2017

Dr. Eisenberg gives his recommendations for Michigan communities. Read more here.

Weak Withdrawal

03/22/2017

Despite a prolonged rise in house prices, bringing them back to where they were prior to the Great Recession, mortgage equity withdrawal (MEW) is a pittance compared to a decade ago. Between 2003 and 2007, MEW averaged 7% of disposable…

Bye-bye Brent

03/21/2017

One of the most popularly traded commodities is Brent crude oil, which comes from a North Sea field. Starting in 2002, declining Brent production necessitated Brent transactions also including Forties from the UK and Oseberg from Norway. In 2007, Norwegian…

Obtuse Ordering

03/20/2017

After examining the amount of physician-related spending on various tests, scans, x-rays and examinations ordered by almost 22,000 general internists and hospitalists – doctors that work exclusively in a hospital, but do no invasive procedures – over almost 500,000 distinct…

The spring home-buying season could use more homes

03/20/2017

Elliot speaks with Aaron Schrank about how consumers and homebuilders are feeling about the economy. Read more here.

Partying Patrick’s

03/17/2017

The Friday File: 56.1% of Americans will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, 82.5% of them will wear green, and the average amount spent to celebrate will be $38/person; $5.3 billion, equal to the GDP of Bermuda. St. Patrick’s Day is the…

Macroeconomic Microcosm

03/16/2017

16Q4 GDP growth was a perfect microcosm of US economic activity of the last several years. GDP growth was a disappointing 1.9%, albeit par for the course of late. More importantly, household consumption, 69% of GDP, grew a solid 2.97%…

Flat Farming

03/15/2017

In 2006, US net farm income was $57.7 billion. It then rose in five of the next seven years, peaking in 2013 at $123.7 billion. Since then, farm income has steadily declined, falling to $68.5 billion in 2016 and is…

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