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

November data starts out strong with a very positive ISM manufacturing index

November data starts out strong with a very positive ISM manufacturing index The first November data point, the ISM manufacturing index, was reported this morning, and while it declined from last month, it remained very strongly positive. The overall index declined from 59.3 to 57.5, and the more forward-looking new orders index declined from 67.9 […]

Weekly Indicators for November 23 – 27 at Seeking Alpha

 by New Deal democrat Weekly Indicators for November 23 – 27 at Seeking Alpha A little later than usual, my Weekly Indicators post is up at Seeking Alpha. While there has been no big deterioration, there are further slight signs that the out of control pandemic is taking a toll on the recovery that has been […]

October personal income declines, but still well above pre-pandemic peak; increased likelihood of negative pandemic reversal in jobless claims

October personal income declines, but still well above pre-pandemic peak; increased likelihood of negative pandemic reversal in jobless claims Before I turn to this week’s report on jobless claims, a brief word first about October’s personal income and spending. Although personal income declined in October compared with September, more importantly depending on how you measure […]

Lord, the Pain of it

The good mayor of El Paso is at wit’s end. He is worrying himself into the grave. The City’s hospitals and morgues are overflowing. Seems that the people have to work to eat, and, if they work, they get the virus and get sick, and, too many die. Damned capitalism is as deadly as the […]

Jobless claims: the beginning of a pandemic reversal?

Jobless claims: the beginning of a pandemic reversal?   This week’s new jobless claims rose from last week’s pandemic lows, while continued jobless claims again declined to new pandemic lows. On an unadjusted basis, new jobless claims rose by 18,264 to 743,460. Seasonally adjusted claims rose by 31,000 to 742,000. The 4 week moving average, […]

Weekly Indicators for November 16 – 20 at Seeking Alpha

 – by New Deal democrat Weekly Indicators for November 16 – 20 at Seeking Alpha My Weekly Indicators post is up at Seeking Alpha. Nothing definitive yet – after all weekly data is going to be noisy – but there is some indication that the recovery in coincident conditions in the economy have ceased to make […]

Republican Renegade Emulates Warren’s Student Loan Cancellation, It is Still Problematic

First a story, then an introduction to Student Loan Justice Org. and Their Town Hall Meeting November 20th, and finally some cold hard facts from founder Alan Collinge about what is happening to millions of people who have student loans. Your Angry Bear blogger and activist went to a garden party in Michigan in support of […]

Lack of inflation in September consistent with weak demand; real wages increase, but will the pandemic derail the gains?

Lack of inflation in September consistent with weak demand; real wages increase, but will the pandemic derail the gains?   Consumer prices were unchanged in October, both on a seasonally adjusted and unadjusted basis:     But while the lack of inflation is good news in isolation, the last two months can also be viewed […]

Student Loan Debt Crisis Town Hall – November 20, 2020

Friday, November 20, 2020 3:00 PM (EST) Student Loan Debt Crisis Panelists include: PAUL GRONDAHL – Director New York State Writers Institute (host) MATT TAIBBI – Author, Rolling Stone Magazine, Reporter (moderator) Michael J. Camoin – Videos For Change Productions, SCARED TO DEBT (filmmaker) ALAN COLLINGE – Founder of StudentLoanJustice.Org (activist) CATHERINE AUSTIN FITT – […]