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

Q2 GDP indicates continued good expansion now, but more storm clouds gathered ahead

Q2 GDP indicates continued good expansion now, but more storm clouds gathered ahead  – by New Deal democrat Now let’s deal with this morning’s big news: real GDP improved at a perfectly respectable 0.6% over the first Quarter of this year: This works out to a 2.4% annualized rate. Although it continues the slowdown from […]

How the Biggest Emitters Match Up on Climate Change

I suspect that at the end of July, just about every expert globally will be looking for reasons why July’s climate will potentially be the hottest month experienced since we started to keep records. The U.S. has broken more than 2,000 high temperature records in the past month. The United States is long overdue in […]

Continuing improvement in new jobless claims re-sets the clock

Continuing improvement in new jobless claims re-sets the clock  – by New Deal democrat Let’s get the easy part of this morning’s slew of data out of the way first:  initial jobless claims declined -7,000 to 221,000. The 4 week average declined -3,750 to 233,750. With a one week lag, continuing claims declined -50,000 to […]

Five Reasons for Congress to Protect the 340B Program

This is one article I have found which openly supports the 340B program and establishes the reasons for a need of the program. Hospitals located in areas of low income citizens and uninsured patients are more likely to make use of this program than those in more affluent areas. Efforts disparaging this program because of […]

Despite Potential to Electrify 90 Percent of Routes, USPS Still Plans to Deliver Pollution with the Mail

I came across this article on Steve Hutkins’ “Save the Post Office.” There has been a political effort to redefine the USPS into more of a business model and something it was never meant to be. Right now, the USPS is beginning to reimage its model and existence as led by Postmaster Louis Dejoy. There […]

Branding and the business model of research universities

Our daughter only applied to two colleges, Washington University in St. Louis and Colorado State University in Ft. Collins. Tuition wasn’t an issue, since her mom was an employee of Wash U, and the university pays full tuition at Wash U or half of Wash U’s tuition at any other college or university for all […]

Prices for new single family homes down YoY,, while sales fluctuate; apartment rent changes YoY are zero

Prices for new single family homes down YoY,, while sales fluctuate; apartment rent changes YoY are zero  – by New Deal democrat June’s new home sales, and Apartment List’s Rent Report, this morning rounded out our view of this important leading sector through June. New single family home sales are the most leading of all the […]

On inheritance, college tuition and college loans

My parents died as paupers, so there wasn’t anything for me and my four siblings to “inherit” upon their deaths. No matter. I figure I got my inheritance on the front end, because my folks paid for my college education: tuition, room and board. Even correcting for inflation, tuition* at the University of Tennessee was […]

House prices stabilize (or even increase!) for existing homes, while prices have been slashed for new homes. What’s going on?

House prices stabilize (or even increase!) for existing homes, while prices have been slashed for new homes. What’s going on?  – by New Deal democrat Both the Case Shiller and FHFA housing price indexes were reported this morning through May. To quote each in turn: “The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering […]