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

ISM manufacturing index in January the strongest since 2022

ISM manufacturing index in January the strongest since 2022  – by New Deal democrat Although manufacturing is of diminishing importance to the economy, (it was in deep contraction both in 2015-16 and again in 2022 without any recession), the ISM manufacturing index remains an important indicator with a 75+ year history of accurately describing that […]

Personal income and spending for December: more “steady as she goes”

Personal income and spending for December: more “steady as she goes” but with late cycle characteristics -by New Deal Democrat The December personal income and spending report showed that for the huge consumption sector of the economy, “steady as she goes” continued, as both nominal and real personal income and spending rose again in December. […]

MAGA is coming for your paycheck

There are other forms of taxation besides income taxes. Tariffs are really just taxes on consumer goods. And deportations will drive up the prices of produce that’s left to rot in the fields. Call it a “deportation tax.” This link is from 16 January. “The impact of President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportation is […]

The economics of Trump’s ego

“U.S. President Donald Trump’s military deportation flight to Guatemala on Monday likely cost at least $4,675 per migrant, according to data provided by U.S. and Guatemalan officials. “That is more than five times the $853 cost of a one-way first class ticket on American Airlines from El Paso, Texas, the departure point for the flight, […]

The Trump economic fantasy agenda

“Trump claims his policies will do just that, creating a new “golden age” that will lift most boats and more than make up for what people might lose in government largesse. Low taxes will trigger blowout growth; tariffs on imports will bring back millions of good-paying manufacturing jobs; unshackled workers aided by artificial intelligence will […]

We have no idea how bad things will get, but they could get very, very bad

Let’s do some pessimism. Trump has already made it clear that he does not recognize any legal limits on his behavior – no constitutional limits, and no statutory limits.  This is reflected in his effort to halt broad swaths of federal spending for 90 days (which violates both the constitution and the Impoundment Control Act […]

Trump is poisoning biomedical research in the US

The US has been an international leader in biomedical research for decades. Now, the Trump administration wants to blow that up. “The directive also brings the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) lengthy scientific grant review process to a standstill. “All NIH study sections canceled indefinitely. This will halt science and devastate research budgets in universities,” […]

Shareholders agree with Corporate’s Recent Efforts

A large number of stockholders are supporting Costco’s most recent efforts. Costco shareholders on Thursday soundly rejected a conservative think tank’s proposal requesting a report on the risks of maintaining diversity and inclusion initiatives, even as other companies back down. Costco said that an “overwhelming margin” of 98% of shares voted against the measure, according to […]

Estimates of All People Experiencing Homelessness in the United States

A not-so-short report made shorter by me on homelessness during the pandemic. It is not a terrible read. Plenty of charts and graphs to help explain the words. Dive into it, it is pretty good. The 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR to Congress) Part 1: Point-In-Time Estimates of Homelessness, December 2024 National Estimates of […]

Executive Orders for Trump and Private Industry

This was from May 2023. I have been reading the OilPrice website just to keep up with what the other side of the room was thinking, Not that I would get all the detail. However, you can surmise what is taking place after a brief read. I do not believe industry finds Trump and his […]