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

What Percent is Labor Wages as a Part of Manufacturing and National Income

This is a good one. Why is it a good one to me. As you get to the end of this, we start to learn about what is changing in the realm of manufacturing and Labor. I do not believe it has changed as much as you have read. Without Labor Input there is little […]

Housing continues in the doldrums, but its decline failed to give rise to a post-pandemic recession

 – by New Deal democrat When it comes to housing, the post-pandemic economy has been odd. That’s because, as of last year by all accounts housing had deteriorated  sufficiently that a recession should already have begun. Not only did that not (quite) happen, but the current situation would be more congruent with such a recession ending […]

De-dollarization heats up

Jonathan Last has a fairly detailed piece (with links to more details) concerning something called mBridge, which looks to be China’s ‘camel’s nose under the tent’ for dethroning the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. Read the whole thing. Here are some highlights: Currently, most of the world uses the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial […]

Quote of the day

“The best way to see this is that none of the further negotiation parts of this deal are going to happen. Those provide each side, but especially the U.S. with a figleaf to sell their respective publics. This is really just an agreement to stop. The U.S. will have achieved none of its strategic objectives […]

New Medicaid Work Rules by Repubs

“Strict Medicaid work rules could harm people with serious illnesses, advocates say,” NPR Advocates for people with serious illnesses, like cancer and HIV, say the strict Medicaid work rules that the Trump administration released this week are likely to put ongoing treatments in jeopardy. States must put the work requirements into effect by January 1. […]

If the Iran deal is so great, why not release it?

Presumably the deal is embarrassing to either Iran or the Trump administration (or possibly to both parties).  My guess is the embarrassment is on Trump.  He gets nothing except the end of the global oil shortage he caused.  The Iranians will get a large financial benefit in one form or another – a benefit that […]

Goods production sector of the economy remained in expansion in May

– by New Deal democrat Late last year I noticed that the regional Fed manufacturing indicators were improving – despite the “Liberation Day” tariffs and the general chaos coming out of Washington. It appeared that manufacturers had found a modus vivendi and had adapted to the new environment. That subsequently showed up in a number of […]

Downturn in Gold Pricing could last until end of the year

When in Thailand, I most certainly did not pay that much for several ounces of 22k gold there. From the looks of it things have changed. But then that was a few years back. Read on as this will be a part of the economy . Gold dips amid renewed Mideast conflict Bangkok Post 12 […]

Automotive Manufacturing Investments

People wonder if the big three will stay in the United States. They will be around for another ten years doing the assembly part and buying components and assemblies (wire harnesses, etc.) from overseas. And yes there is cost to doing it this way. Once on the dock, they own it. Six weeks on the […]