70 Words

The cost of diesel is below the price of gasoline for the first time since 2009. Gasoline prices peak in spring/summer due to driving, while diesel demand peaks in autumn and winter due to agricultural activity and winter heating. Therefore,…

The Friday File: Assuming exchange rates and prices eventually adjust to make the same item equally priced everywhere, the Big Mac Index was developed. In Switzerland, a Big Mac is a whopping $6.82, its currency is hopelessly overvalued. In Russia,…

June existing home sales hit their highest number since 7/06, and while the median sales price hit a record-high of $236,400, an inflation-adjusted price comparable to 7/06 would be $270,014. Part of the picture is that the number of distressed…

Since hitting a high of $1,889/oz. on 8/21/11, gold has steadily declined and is now about $1,100/oz. Investors sought gold out of misplaced fears that inflation would run wild due to lax monetary policy. Now that the economy is out…

While housing starts and permits are rising smartly, it’s entirely due to multifamily (2 or more units). Last month, multifamily starts enjoyed their best month since 4/88 and their best first half of the year since 1989! Moreover, in June…

There are about 41 million persons age five and older in the US that speak Spanish at home. This makes the US the 4th largest fourth largest Spanish-speaking nation behind Spain at 46 million, Colombia at 48 million and Mexico…

The Friday File: Since first appearing in the early 1800s, poker has become increasingly complex. Originally, five cards were dealt followed by one round of betting. That’s boring, and the chance of having a good hand, very low. By introducing…

The just negotiated temporary arms control agreement has several vulnerabilities that must be dealt with. When Iran cheats in small ways, and they will, the penalties must hurt. We must also prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear state by building…