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

Short and medium term inflation, interest rates, and the overstretched consumer

The deluge of data resumes tomorrow with housing permits and starts, industrial production, and durable goods orders. In the meantime, let me make a few “big picture” observations of the economy, and in particular, the short and longer term trends in inflation and interest rates. – by New Deal democrat 1. Short term inflation A very […]

Disinflating shelter prices and deflating gas prices work wonders for January CPI

No, it is not a mistake by putting the title at the head of this post (above) and a second time below. I did not want the AB readers to think I was writing this commentary about January CPI results. This report belongs solely to New Deal democrat. Oh, I did write or report on […]

Just the Facts Consumer Price (CPI) Report

CPI Report with just the facts being reported. Another report after the CPI Report. Gap in spending growth between higher-income households and all others was at its largest since mid-2022 . . . And many people will lose healthcare due to drop in the ACA subsidies and Medicaid. ACA Subsidies will go from 600 FPL […]

Leading sector benchmark job revisions were almost all seriously negative

– by New Deal democrat Before I get to the main point at hand, let me make a quick note about this morning’s existing home sales report for January: it was more of the same. Sales remained within the sideways range they have been in for nearly the past three years; prices were nearly flat YoY, […]

January jobs report: superb monthly gains, but the birds came home to roost for 2025

– by New Deal democrat This is the month the birds came home to roost, at least for the year 2025. While the month over month numbers were almost all positive, some strongly so (a repeat of what we saw last January as well, so beware unresolved seasonality), the benchmark revisions were brutal. Which is likely […]

Rebuking Trump on tariffs is a first baby step towards rehabilitating our international reputation

Yesterday the House (barely) rejected an effort to block members from challenging Trump’s “emergency” tariffs.  The sordid details are here.  The Senate has previously taken some steps in this direction, and with Trump’s approval ratings still declining and the possibility of a mid-term wipe out looming it seems possible that we will see Congress move […]

Real retail sales turn down monthly and YoY in December, boding poorly for employment

– by New Deal democrat Real retail sales, one of my favorite broad-economy indicators, was updated through December this morning — still stale by one month, as under normal circumstances January’s numbers would have been released this week.  Still, with consumer spending being about 70% of the entire economy, this is one of the most […]

Expect shelter inflation to continue abating in the next few CPI reports

– by New Deal democrat There’s no significant economic news until Wednsday’s jobs report, as to which Scott Bessent gave an interview this morning on CNBC which amounted to, “Don’t Panic!!!” Which I am sure inspires confidence in everybody (I’ve been expecting downward revisions to much of last year as part of the annual benchmarking, so […]