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

Updating the K.I.S.S. estimate of the coming shock in CPI

 – by New Deal democrat There’s no big economic data today, so let me update something I posted last week, in which I warned readers to expect a shock in the next CPI report.  I wrote that “based on past history and using conservative assumptions, the model forecasts a 1.8% increase in CPI between March and […]

water security and food production

In Arizona, we are starting to see many proposals for data centers, Chip, etc. and similar manufacturers. It is interesting as there is a lot of obvious large building going on in Arizona. I would not think there is a lot of natural resource available to sustain the type of industry coming to Arizona. It […]

The bond market sends an unprecedented message

 – by New Deal democrat Something not just unusual, but unprecedented has happened in the bond market this year. Normally, when an inverted yield curve (where earlier maturing bonds yield more than later maturing ones) regularizes, or un-inverts (where yields get higher the later the maturing), it is because the Fed has lowered rates sufficiently […]

Workers Looking for Better Jobs During a Bad Market

Changing jobs for better conditions and pay become more of a danger during a poor economy. It is not a good time to be looking for a better job. Indeed, doing so may put your present job in danger if management finds out. Best bet is to hunker down for the time being. Been there […]

Construction spending in January declined, manufacturing construction tanked; but the AI data center Boom continued

 – by New Deal democrat This morning the construction spending report for January was released (note that this is still about 3 weeks later than usual, so last autumn’s government shutdown continues to reverberate in the data). In the past I have used it to help track the long leading sector of housing, but in the […]

Healthcare in the United States

Some rather easy facts and numbers to understand what is going on in healthcare. The data and graphs originate from USA Facts. USA Facts makes government data easier to access and understand. as the assert, “we don’t tell you what to think. We give you what you need to make informed decisions.” Three topics are […]

Going to War with Trump and Rubio

No doubt the two most inexperienced politicians have decided the US needs a war in the Middle East. Neither have an understanding of the military. Neither served in any service I am aware of today. Both have egos bigger than they are. And they are willing to risk it all and you as long as […]

Marx is spinning in his grave

I’m neither an economist nor an historian, but I know enough about Marx to know that none of the governments that have been established in his name followed Marx’s theories. Suffice to say that Marx taught that socialism—and eventually communism—would arise in mature capitalist economies, when the workers got tired of labor exploitation and overthrew […]

TDS and the economics of Trump’s war on Iran

The Trumpenproletariat loves to point to those who disagree with Dear Leader as having Trump Derangement Syndrome. But like everything they accuse others of, it’s what they’re guilty of. “A week ago I asked whether global energy markets have “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” I was being a bit arch because I didn’t mean in the sense […]