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

The FY2014 federal budget deficit fell 29% to $483.35 billion or 2.8% of GDP, the lowest percentage since FY2007. Revenues rose 9% to $3.021 trillion, due to higher incomes and higher tax rates that went into effect 1/1/13. Outlays rose…

The Friday File: One of only three undefeated college football teams, what separates the #1 ranked Mississippi Bulldogs from other top programs is school spending on football totals just $15.3 million/year. Alabama spends the most; $41.6 million/year, with $11.8 million…

Should the Republicans regain the Senate (which seems likely), expect them to reverse the Democrats’ rule enabling confirmation of cabinet appointees and most judges from a simple majority back to a super majority of 60 votes. With a simple majority,…

The unemployment rate declines when an economy grows faster than its potential. This usually happens coming out of recessions when an economy makes up for economic growth that didn’t occur during the recession. The problem is, while the unemployment rate…

Last week, first-time claims for unemployment fell to their lowest level since May 2000 and population-adjusted, you have to go back to the week of May 17th 1969 to get a lower number! In addition, industrial production jumped one percent,…

While housing starts were up 6.3% in September compared to August, the increase was led by an 18.5% rise in multifamily and a 1.1% rise in single-family. YTD single-family starts are up just 4%; multifamily are up 23%! Single-family permits…

The Friday File: Economists studying marriage find that the more lavish the wedding the shorter the marriage. To be precise, the chances of getting divorced are 60% higher if the wedding cost more than $20,000 compared to less costly nuptials.…

The total value of wages is $7.2 trillion. If we add 2.3 million workers/year to payrolls, the current rate, each of which earns the average wage of $42,498, total wages rise by $98 billion. However, a 1.36% increase in real…

With Ebola worsening, Europe suddenly dramatically weakening, ISIS looking strong, China and Japan slowing, commodity prices tanking and QE ending, market stress is unsurprising. The end of QE and the subsequent rise in short-term rates would be sufficient to fuel…

The euro’s dramatic fall against the dollar, due to Europe’s economic weakness, will reduce US inflationary pressures, hurt US exports and reduce equity values. Therefore, the Fed may wait longer before raising rates. However, the ECB is hoping the Fed…