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

Agencies cut the most by Trump, new data reveals

I believe we are experiencing delays in assistance to citizens due to a lack of employees in the government agencies. The layoffs were only a small amount of the people who have left the Federal Government. Most of the departures were voluntary. Think about it. Two people who have to much influence and power are […]

Two cheers for congressional science funding

Things were looking grim for federally funded science earlier this year: • Trump proposed an overall cut in science funding from $198 to $154 billion, a reduction of 22% that would have been the largest reduction in federal science spending since World War II: • Trump proposed that the National Science Foundation budget be slashed […]

December jobs report: ringing the alarm bells for imminent recession* (*with caveats)

 – by New Deal democrat [Note: Housing permits, starts, and units under construction were also updated this morning for September and October. I will post my remarks on this report on Monday; but in summary I can say it remained recessionary, with some possible “green shoots” that may indicate a bottom.] This morning’s jobs report for […]

A pediatrician’s thoughts on the new vaccine schedule

The other day, I was getting my semi-annual cleaning at the dentist office. When the hygienist asked what I did before retirement, I told her I was a medical school professor. That touched off a 15-minute interrogation about childhood vaccination. She has an infant daughter. While she’s gotten all the recommended vaccines, she was plainly […]

November JOLTS report consistent with a weak, but sideways rather than negative, trend in the labor market

– by New Deal democrat Yesterday’s JOLTS report for November was not stale inasmuch as it was at best delayed by a week or two. But nevertheless, since it was for November it remains somewhat old news that can only help to confirm other data we have already received.  Last month I concluded that the […]

Why Congressional Republicans are Responsible for the Government Chaos

Secondarily, J.P. McJefferson gives the specific reasons why Republicans are holding the bag on being responsible for governmental and political leadership. It is difficult to imagine why they fall in line with Trump and Miller’s demands. Comment extracted from an earlier post. “Republicans en mass are responsible for the complete chaos of the American government,” […]

Jobless claims start the year where they left off: very low firing, problematic hiring possibly easing

 – by New Deal democrat Let’s take our weekly look at jobless claims, which are the best up-to-the-moment measure of the labor market. Initial claims rose 8,000 to 208,000, while the four week moving average declined -7,250 to 211,750. With the typical one week delay, continuing claims rose 56,000 to 1.914 million: Number of Initial […]

ISM services report for December powerful evidence that the services providing sector of the US economy remains in solid expansion

 – by New Deal democrat As I indicated yesterday and earlier today, we got some stale data on factory orders this morning, as well as a JOLTS report for November. I’ll take a look at those tomorrow. In the meantime, the big news of the morning has to be the very good ISM services report for […]