Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet this month. If you are Taiwanese or care about them, this is what you need to know: China holds $760 billion in US debt, which it could call by beginning to sell its bonds at any point. It wouldn’t crash the US economy, but it would put a […]

A new survey underscores the importance of professional salaries and benefits like paid parental leave in keeping educators in the profession—and how collective bargaining can have a major impact. “How Teachers View Their Pay and Benefits” Tim Walker, Senior Writer Ask most K-12 public school teachers what would make them stay in the profession, better […]

I do not recall being in this section of Bangkok. As it is, Bangkok is an interesting city having quite a bit of history to it. The residents are nice to Americans and others. Most are trying to just make a living. They look to foreign visitors to make part of their income. I found […]

– by New Deal democrat I wasn’t able to get to either the GDP report or the jobless claims report yesterday. I’m going to hold off on the GDP report until next week, because there was a lot going on, but this morning (before the ISM manufacturing Index comes out) let’s take a look at jobless […]

 – by New Deal democrat Personal income and spending are among the most important monthly indicators of all, because they give us a detailed look at consumption by the broad range of American households. And since consumption leads employment, they also give us an idea of what is likely to happen with regard to jobs […]

The following (Healthcare Cost Increases) is taken from the longer Employ America piece. His portion touches upon healthcare costs and how those costs impact labor income and hiring. An Increase in healthcare and insurance costs is similar to a tax. As it increases, more money must be set aside having an impact on overall overhead. […]

This is going to be interesting. Iran has another route in which to secure supplies, food, ammunition. An ocean/sea/straits can do little (none) to blockade an overland route by rail. From what I have read, it appears China has electrified the route. Electricity powered trains would be more efficient smf ;ess endangered by the US, […]

– by New Deal democrat As I reiterated the other day, housing is the one long leading signal of the economy that has been soundly negative – indeed frankly recessionary – for the past year. That trend continued in March, although there are signs of it bottoming out. Without having caused a recession.  Let me start […]

 – by New Deal democrat There was some important housing data this morning; but first I wanted to drop a brief note on the advance report on manufacturing that also was released, because it is yet more confirmation of the (surprising) strong positive trend in that sector. This report covered March, so included the first […]

Sometimes, you can get the best deals when the economy is not so good. However, you may end up with a higher mortgage rate. One years we purchase a home In Schaumberg, Il for a good price and ended up with a 12% mortgage due to the economy. Since my wife’s mother was living with […]