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

Spain as the best economy in the world for 2024

Not an article by The Economist. Indeed, an article reporting on The Economist piece as written by La Vanguardia. A positive take on The Economist article. As reported, Spain achieved the best economic results of any nation with the exception of GDP per capita over the last year. Not everyone is in agreement. But all […]

U.S. economy grew at a 2.8% pace (second estimate)

The U.S. economy posted a solid though slightly disappointing (?) period of growth in the third quarter, propelled higher by strong consumer spending that has defied expectations for a slowdown. With the expectation of attempting to slow inflation, I would think a 2.8% rate of growth would be welcome in light of the Fed waiting […]

November Problem Inflation Sectors? Shelter and Transportation Services

November consumer inflation remains well-contained except for the two most lagging sectors of shelter and transportation services – by New Deal democrat Let me pick up where I left off yesterday discussing trends in consumer prices. One thing I have done every month for the last couple of years is to review all the categories […]

Half of U.S workers Will Live in States with at Least a $15 Minimum Wage by 2027

Nearly half of U.S workers will live in states with at least a $15 minimum wage by 2027, Economic Policy Institute In the 2024 election, Alaska and Missouri voters approved ballot measures to increase their state minimum wage to $15 an hour in the coming years. Now 15 states and Washington D.C. either have or […]

Misapplied Property Tax Economics

Mistake in Administering Property Taxes Results in a 1200 Percent Increase? This reads like something in a tabloid. However, it is occurring in an Illinois county. Montgomery County Assessor Kendra Niehaus discovered the assessment was being calculated incorrectly. A tract of woodland should have a tax rate applied to 33.33% of its fair market value. […]

Who pays?

Recently, Anthem BCBS rescinded its policy of limiting the amount of anesthesia it would pay for during operations. The policy conjured images of patients waking up before the end of their operations, or later being confronted with unexpected bills. But allegedly, that’s not the intent: “Anesthesia services are billed partially on the basis of how […]

The case for accelerating inflation is weak

 – by New Deal democrat No economic news again today. Tomorrow we will get the CPI report for November. As to which, I have read a few posts in which the claim is made that inflation, especially core inflation, is picking up again. It certainly could happen, but in my opinion the evidence for such a […]