Category Archives: Politics

Austerity Must End With Q1 GDP Plunge

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly The final Q1 2014 GDP growth estimate of minus (-2.9) percent, down from the second (-1) percent drop, was a shock for several reasons. Firstly, it means our domestic economy is still sputtering, five years after the … Continue reading →

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When is Higher Inflation Good?

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The short answer is that higher inflation comes from higher growth rates, and so when an economy expands faster, then prices should also rise faster. Otherwise companies’ profits don’t rise and they won’t want to expand their businesses … Continue reading →

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New Fannie, Freddie Regulator Won’t Cut Loan Limits

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — This headline just out.  Mortgage-finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac won’t be directed to lower the limits for mortgages that they back, the new head of their federal regulator said Tuesday. In a … Continue reading →

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288,000 Payroll Jobs Created

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Is the Great Recession finally over? It would seem so with total nonfarm payroll employment up by 288,000, and the unemployment rate down by 0.4 percentage point to 6.3 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics … Continue reading →

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Capital in 21st Century

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly All the hullabaloo re Thomas Piketty’s master economic work, Capital in the 21st Century has overlooked its real importance. Economics is finally becoming a science, rather than just social science based more on theories and formulas (such … Continue reading →

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Opposing the Bully Mentality—Part II

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs How does one stop the bullies? Put simply, find a way to stand up to them. Economic bullies behave no differently than individuals when confronted by a person or organization willing to oppose them. But how are the … Continue reading →

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Q1 Wage Growth Highest in 4 Years

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly This may finally be the year when jobs and the economic recovery are for real for most Americans. Median weekly wages grew at the fastest pace in the first quarter in more than four years, according to … Continue reading →

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The Bully Mentality

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Why does the USA have such a problem with bullies?  Whether in the schools, in politics, or on Internet social media?  The result has been teenage suicides, horrendous school shootings by students who felt bullied or belittled, … Continue reading →

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Yellen’s Federal Reserve To Keep Rates Low

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The Fed’s FOMC minutes of their last meeting were just released, and they show the Fed intends to keep interest rates low for as long as possible, until the unemployment rate drops substantially. And the Fed’s maintenance … Continue reading →

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Jobs Recession Finally Over?

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Is the jobs recession finally over? It’s taken this long to bring employment back to pre-Great Recession levels. Overall employment is still slightly below the pre-recession peak (437 thousand fewer total jobs).  But private employment is now above … Continue reading →

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