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

Repeat home sale indexes show continued deceleration in house price inflation

Repeat home sale indexes show continued deceleration in house price inflation, more comfort room for Fed to cut rates  – by New Deal democrat This morning, we got the repeat home sales price data from the FHFA and Case Shiller. And the news was good, especially in the slightly leading FHFA Index. This is of […]

Banning Price Gouging. What Do Economists Say? – WSJ

Americans hate high prices, and Kamala Harris says she plans to combat them by banning price gouging in food and groceries. But, depending on what form it takes, economists could hate her plan. Vice President Harris, who will formally accept her party’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week, has laid the blame for high food […]

FTC is Interfering with Kroger and Albertson’s Consolidation

Yes, it is true. That is only part of the story. There is more to it as to why the FTC is interfering. I am surprised there is not more “current” information on Cerberus and Apollo Global involvement in the Kroger-Albertsons merger. I keep reading the same blathering over and over. $25 billion at play […]

Arizona will decide on Abortion This November

The Arizona secretary of state’s office recently certified 577,971 signatures which is far above the number required to put the question of Abortion before voters. PHOENIX (AP) — Voters in Arizona will be able to decide in November whether they want to protect the right to an abortion in their state constitution. The Arizona Supreme […]

Vaccination protects from long COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic had a dramatic effect on the US economy that was mitigated by the rapid development and deployment of COVID vaccines. I was a subject in the Moderna Phase III clinical trial of their RNA vaccine, and eventually have had six injections. The well-established benefit of COVID vaccination is that it will keep […]

Wage growth strongest for low-wage workers between 2019 and 2023

According to Word Press this article by EPI can be read in 7 minutes. It is not a difficult read and gives quite a bit of information. Wage growth strongest for low-wage workers between 2019 and 2023 In this analysis, we divide the wage distribution into roughly five groups to uncover recent wage trends at […]

Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Opening Brief is Due in the Eleventh Circuit this Tuesday

That is unless he changes his mind. You have to remember; Justice Clarence Thomas dropped an open hint that Special Council Jack Smith’s appointment may not be legitimate. AG Merrick Garland has weighed in on this . . . Attorney General Merrick Garland defended his appointment of special counsel Jack Smith on Tuesday as the department appeals a ruling […]

Lying about Economics

Economist Robert Reich offers up his opinion on JD Vance’s BS claims of tariffs not raising prices. Vance also wishes the tariffs brought a significant number of jobs to or were created in the US. Wrong on both accounts. Did this guy really go to Yale? Vance’s Trumped-Up Economics Today, Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance […]

New Medicaid Rule Gives Hospitals Greater Market Power

Increasing profits far above actual costs. Think Medicare Advantage as compared to Medicare. Over the past 20 years, the prices of hospital services have grown faster than any other sector of the US economy. Unfortunately, the federal government recently issued a regulation intending to address underpayment of hospitals by Medicaid. However, the new rule could push hospital prices […]

Explaining the difference in Hospitals by Location

I have posted about rural hospitals here, here, and here. Resources found at various hospitals can be defined by location. Rural hospitals may have less resource and capability than urban hospitals plus greater costs. Resources may be less due to cost which does not change but has a larger impact on a rural hospital due […]