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

More of Louis DeJoy’s Foulups with the USPS

USPS Shuts Out Wyomingites Who Want To Comment On Rural Delivery Plan People trying to sign up to comment on the latest U.S. Postal Service proposal that would impact rural delivery in much of Wyoming are finding themselves shut out after a barely publicized deadline to register for Thursday’s virtual meeting passed. The U.S. Postal […]

Covid and US Crime

IN 2020 the US homicide rate increased by 29% the largest percent increase on record. There are different theories of the cause. Some are related to Covid 19 with isolation (not lockdowns there were not lockdowns in the USA) causing increased stress and domestic disputes. The George Floyd associated conflict between police and those they […]

The FED Should Cut Rates in September

Labor market remains strong. Even so, the Fed should cut rates in September (EPI) Two things are true right now for the U.S. economy:  These might strike some as being in tension, normally we want the Fed to cut interest rates to stimulate a weak economy. Why then, if the labor market is quite strong, […]

UPDATE: Real median household income for <sigh> 2023

 – by New Deal democrat I’m a little late to this, since FRED took its time updating, but the annual report of median household income for the US was released on Tuesday for 2023.  This is an important statistic about the well-being of, well, the median American household, so one of my pet peeves is […]

Unforeseen Health Care Bills Coverage Denials by U.S. Insurers

Coverage denials as reported by the Commonwealth Fund today almost never happened in the past and was a rare occurrence. The insurance companies would concede to the findings of the examining doctors. The methodology being used today is to deny, deny, deny until the insured and the doctor give up. I think it was 1997 […]

USPS has been Addressing Mail Slowdown in the Guise of Improvements

Will mail slowdown affect your area? USPS won’t say, Save the Post Office Richmond Times-Dispatch: The USPS is proposing a new plan in order to keep itself afloat, and the plan involves slower mail in rural ZIP codes across the country. But the agency will not say which post offices will be affected. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy […]

Initial claims still positive, moving into very challenging YoY comparisons (plus a note about the PPI)

– by New Deal democrat If residual post-pandemic seasonality has been affecting jobless claims statistics, the real acid test is going to begin next week, as for the next 7+ months, any number higher than 220,000 is almost always going to be higher than one year ago. In the meantime, for this our last week of […]