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

Boom in U.S. Construction of Manufacturing Facilities

This piece is a review on what is happening in increasing manufacturing capacity for computer, electronic, and electrical manufacturing. Where I am, there is increasing builds of facilities for each of those products. That being around the Phoenix area. One facility they have been working on for two years now and it appears to be […]

$3 Billion Shortfall in VA Benefits for Disability and Education

It figures. Just about the time they accept me in for full benefits due to my being at Camp Lejeune, the VA is starting to rund short on cash to pay for the Pact Act. What is said further down in this report, medical care is running short on funds too. That shortage is ~$9 […]

Establishment Jobs survey weak and Household Jobs survey almost recessionary

July jobs report: Establishment survey weak (but still positive), Household survey (even more) recessionary  – by New Deal democrat In the past few months, my focus has been on whether jobs gains are most consistent with a “soft landing,” i.e., no further deterioration, or whether deceleration is ongoing. In the last several months I have also […]

The Truth Social poll and Trump’s market value

While I do check in from time to time at 538, it turns out that Truth Social share prices are a useful metric for Trump’s popularity, at least where it matters: “The value of Trump’s stake in the corporate owner of Truth Social has dropped by $900 million since Vice President Kamala Harris entered the […]

Jobless claims increase, no longer positive and neutral

Jobless claims increase; no longer positive but neutral (and likely still affected by unresolved seasonality)  – by New Deal democrat I’m still on the road, so this will be an abbreviated report. Initial claims rose 14,000 to 249,000, the highest since last August. The four week moving average rose 2,500 to 238,000, the highest since […]

Can you reduce your risk of dementia?

Dementia is becoming a growing societal burden throughout the world, especially in the industrialized world where increase longevity results in larger numbers of people experiencing dementia. So far, advances in medical treatments to mitigate this burden have been modest, at best. There are known genetic risk factors for Alzheimers and frontotemporal lobe dementia. I’ve had […]

Fed thinks It Might Cut its Benchmark Lending Rate This Year . . . Maybe

Washington CNN  Someone is hopeful a small decrease in the Fed Rate will impact the economy (housing, etc.) greatly. While it is a positive move over the next 6 or so months (just kidding), I can not see shall a huge decline in rates forthcoming after a decrease. We still have a ways to go. […]

Deceleration All Around (including the bad stuff)

 – by New Deal democrat Angry Bear PM Take: It would seem like Fed Chair Powell feels good about the progress. The theme of the JOLTS report for June was “continued deceleration,” but no particular cause for concern. As we’ll see below, that’s because the “bad” metrics declined just as much as the “good” ones […]

Boomers were the yuppies, not the hippies

The “baby boom” began in 1946 and ended in 1964. I’m a boomer. In fact, I was born in the mathematical center of the baby boom. I was 14 when Woodstock happened. Boomers have been credited (or blamed) for the tumultuous ‘60s of civil rights and hippie fame. But that’s anachronistic. Here’s Louis Man and […]