70 Words

Employment Exodus

01/11/2017

The male labor force participation rate for those aged 25-54 has fallen from 97.9% in 1954 to 88%. With a Bachelor’s degree or more the rate is 94%, for those with some college the rate’s 88%, and for those with…

Debt Dollars

01/10/2017

The total US debt is $19.9 trillion. Of that, $5.5 trillion is owned by the government (like the Social Security Trust Fund) and $14.4 is held by the public. Of the public part, $6.175 trillion is held by foreigners. Japan…

Solid Slog

01/09/2017

While December job creation was mildly disappointing at 156,000, the real story was the large 0.4% rise in monthly wage growth and the 2.9% rise in Y-o-Y wage growth, the largest Y-o-Y gain since 6/09. Moreover, job gains for October…

Surprising Surnames

01/06/2017

The Friday File: The top 25 last names now cover 8.7% of US the population, up from 8.6% in 2000. Similarly, the most popular 239 last names cover one-quarter of the population, down from 244 in 2000. Smith remains the…

Parental Palace

01/05/2017

In 2015, the percentage of those 18 to 34 living with their parents was 39.5%, the highest level since 1940 when it was 40.9%. Of course, 1940 was one year removed from the end of the Depression. The rate then…

Heroic Hindsight

01/04/2017

For those of you with perfect hindsight, 2016 was a financial feast! You invested in natural gas, which jumped 57.6%, diesel fuel, which bounced 53.8%, and crude oil, which rose 45%. You also brilliantly invested in the Brazilian stock market,…

Amateurish Advice

01/03/2017

Today, 49% of firms in the S&P 500 are rated as “buy”, 45% are rated as “hold” and just 6% are rated as “sell”. This is a travesty! This past year, despite being a good one for equities, 30% of…

Financial Fitness

01/02/2017

For the health of your financial portfolio I recommend three things. Don’t listen to expert predictions; experts can’t forecast the future any better than you. Next, fees paid to financial advisors/managers reduce your return. Make sure you are getting value…

Gracious Gracias

12/30/2016

The Friday File: I wish to take this opportunity to thank you all for your interest in my daily economics blog. All of you enrich my life in many ways and I am deeply appreciative. I wish you and yours…

Big Boozing

12/29/2016

Based on blood alcohol content level, the state with the highest BAC is Iowa at .122%, followed by Arkansas at .113%, Alabama at .112%, Maine at .107% and Tennessee at .106%. The states with the lowest BAC are New Hampshire…

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