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

JOLTS survey for May still consistent with “soft landing” scenario

– by New Deal democrat As promised, let me parse the JOLTS survey for May, which was reported yesterday.  As a quick refresher, this survey decomposes the employment market into openings, hires, quits, and layoffs. In 2024 the data were most consistent with a “soft landing,” but the actions of the new Administration, especially on trade, […]

Kristi Noem is deranged, but will she cannibalize her own words?

Noem is busy protecting Americans against self-eating cannibals: “Speaking at a press conference in Florida with Donald Trump, Noem claimed that the president’s deportation push, which she is overseeing, is about “upholding freedom…the freedom to live safely in this country and to do things legally and to have justice.” The administration, she said, is “going […]

Round Abouts and Traffic Circles

Yesterday, we were discussing Round Abouts (AZ) or what they call Traffic Circles (New Jersey) in this article. My first experience at navigating one such creature was in Asbury Park, New Jersey. I was temporality stationed (as a Marine) at Fort Monmouth going to Crypto-Tech training for six months. I was able to borrow a […]

We are led by fools

RFK Jr. has appointed a clown car to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). And it shows: “If observers were waiting for a moment when the newly anointed members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) made a clear case against U.S. vaccine science, it didn’t happen during the group’s 2-day […]

Vortex

Stable genius, me arse.  Veritable idiot, more like.  And, a neanderthal.  Abysmally ignorant of state craft, of economics, of finance, of trade, of government, of science, of history, … of anything other than his own own oral anal.  From anal to oral, gut to mouth, sixteen and more hours a day.  But for Fred and […]

Construction spending continues contraction, amplifying yellow flag caution from manufacturing

 – by New Deal democrat I concluded last month’s post on construction spending by writing “Putting this report together with this morning’s other report on manufacturing from ISM, it appears the goods-producing part of the economy as a whole is very slightly contracting. It will be interesting to see if this is reflected in a decline […]

Some Additional Thoughts and Reading . . . Fellow Rats

– Supreme Court limits nationwide injunctions, but fate of Trump birthright citizenship order unclear. The Copper Courier. “the decision left unclear the fate of President Donald Trump’s restrictions on birthright citizenship.” – States can cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, the Supreme Court rules. Associated Press. “authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch and joined by the […]

Preliminary economically weighted ISM average for June continues in “recession watch” territory

 – by New Deal democrat As usual, we start out the month with reports on both manufacturing and construction. Ill post separately on construction. Additionally, the May JOLTS reports was posted, but I’ll discuss that tomorrow. So let’s start with the ISM manufacturing report, a recognized leading indicator for the past 60+ years, although of diminished […]