Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

Just Some Manufacturing Data

I ran across this data while looking for Economic Stats on the United States manufacturing ability, Perfect for presentation as it has both detail and charts on the topic. Manufacturing, Supply Chain, etc. has become foreign to many people. It is not a major part of the economy as New Deal Democrat mentions from time […]

Initial claims are positive, while hurricane-adjusted continued claims are neutral

 – by New Deal democrat This week’s jobless claims reflect a little more complex scenario than usual, because the hurricane effects have disappeared from initial claims and their four week average, but likely are affecting continued claims, and are also likely to have a negative impact for the unemployment rate in the next jobs report. […]

Retail Theft

Is theft on the rise or is this another way to winning an election by promising to fight crime. It does get votes as people believe what they want to hear. Shoplifting is not actually on the rise. Once again, the media uses such to sell itself. The Truth about Retail Theft – by Sam […]

How Can the Loan Interest Become Greater than the Principal?

I have written about and posted on Student Loan debt forever and usually about Alan Collinge. This is never ending debt where the interest can be greater than the costs over the years of payback. That is, if it is ever paid back. In this particular commentary, it discusses a Masters in filmography or movie […]

Javier Milei: Argentina’s Trump?

Modern Argentina has had a problematic and sometimes sordid history. From the dirty war of the 1970s to hyperinflation, the South American nation has been ill-served by most of its leaders. Javier Milei was elected president of Argentina in October 2023 after campaigning to overturn the status quo and transform the economy and politics of […]

What to look for if housing construction does forecast a recession

 – by New Deal democrat No data today, but since it is mainly a housing week, let me pick up on a topic I discussed at the end of yesterday’s post; namely, if housing does indeed forecast an oncoming recession, what should we expect next in that sector? To cut to the chase, ultimately we […]

Industrial Policy

Most certainly. the US was or is seeing the results of encouraging the return of manufacturing in various industries. I believe the semiconductor manufacturing was more the result of strategic need due to foreign influence in the market. Such could probably be said about the steel industry also. Subsidizing improvements in production by the government […]