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

Presidential Orders in Passing

“Trump Makes ‘Most Blasé Admission of a War Crime by a US President in History.’ Common Dreams President Donald Trump said the US Navy chose to sink an Iranian frigate, killing more than 100 sailors last week, because it was “more fun” than capturing the vessel, even though the ship posed no threat. Though death tolls vary, Iran’s […]

Repeat home sales through March confirm continued deceleration of price increases

 – by New Deal democrat Last week the existing home sales report showed continued deceleration in YoY price increases to 1.8%, indicative of the ongoing rebalancing of the housing market. This morning’s repeat home sales reports from the FHFA and S&P Case Shiller confirmed that deceleration and ongoing rebalancing. On a seasonally adjusted basis, in […]

JOLTS report shows that the “soft landing” was intact – through March

I am not sure if people know what the Jolts Report is. So, I will offer up a descriptive definition; The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) program of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) produces monthly and annual estimates of job openings, hires, and separations for the nation. The JOLTS program also produces monthly state estimates for […]

March CPI

This is the report we have been waiting for . . .  – by New Deal democrat In March, with the exception of the usual problem child of shelter, almost every other component of consumer prices was tame – except for meat and eggs. And even shelter continued to decelerate. If Jerome Powell hadn’t tied […]

Recessionary Housing Report

February housing construction rangebound, but at recessionary or near-recessionary levels  – by New Deal democrat As usual, the month’s important housing data starts out with construction.  For a quick refresher, I follow this because housing typically leads the rest of the economy by a year or more. After the very leading, but very noisy and […]