70 Words
Last Friday’s labor report showing a gain of 74,000 new jobs, when 200,000 were expected, and a decline in the labor force participation from 63% to 62.8% (a 35 year low) was, no matter how you slice it, bad. That…
Read MoreThe Friday File: Each of the last four teams to break the record as the highest scoring team in NFL history (’67 Oakland Raiders 33.4 points per game, the ’83 Washington Redskins 33.8 PPG, ’98 Minnesota Vikings 34.8 PPG, ’07…
Read MoreWhile interest rates are on the rise, so is economic growth. At this stage in the business cycle, growth has the upper hand. While rising interest rates dampen home buying activity, better growth and the concomitant increase in employment more…
Read MoreAny final nuclear agreement between the P5+1 and Iran must, at minimum, limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions to those of a civilian nuclear program with comprehensive monitoring so that any nuclear “breakout” effort would be lengthy and quickly detected. Its heavy-water…
Read MoreThe combination of November exports reaching an all-time high of $194.9 billion, the trade deficit narrowing to just $34.25 billion, its lowest level since 10/09, November’s factory orders rising 1.8% and October’s factory orders upward revision of 0.4%, and strong…
Read MoreWith small investors still largely on the sidelines, bond prices continuing to slide as interest rates rise, the number of large corporate stock buybacks declining, gold prices falling and corporate earnings expected to improve, I expect a rise in the…
Read MoreThe Friday File: The biggest physical heist of 2013 involved one thief who stole $135 million in jewels in Cannes, France as they were being delivered to a hotel for display. The next biggest theft was an inside job where…
Read MoreDespite little, if any, expected real wage growth in 2014, the jobs picture is likely to improve. This is because the percentage of new jobs in notoriously low paying sectors like retail trade, restaurants, temporary help and home healthcare should…
Read MoreI want to take this opportunity to thank every one of you very much for your interest in my daily blog and economics. All of you enrich my life in many ways and I am profoundly grateful. I wish you…
Read MoreEntering 2014, the biggest economic risks include China and its increasing dependence on debt to fuel slowing growth, followed by Europe which will struggle to keep the euro intact if a recession hits. But these problems are both remote. Here,…
Read More