Tag Archives: consumer spending

Why Are Consumers So Unhappy?

Popular Economics Weekly It shouldn’t be a secret, by now. Consumers are unhappy. And it’s not because we are too busy paying down our debts. It’s really because no one in Washington has been focusing on job creation—at least since … Continue reading

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Happy New Year—A 2013 Recovery!

Popular Economics Weekly Any doubts how dependent the rest of the world is on U.S. growth was dispelled on ratification of the ‘fiscal cliff’ bill by Congress. The world’s stock markets rallied on the news. The DOW was up + … Continue reading

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Falling Households Incomes—The Real ‘Fiscal Cliff’

Popular Economics Weekly It is household income that is falling off a cliff. This is partly due to the busted housing bubble and subsequent Great Recession that shaved 40 percent from household wealth. But household incomes haven’t been rising as … Continue reading

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It’s the Consumers Turn

Popular Economics Weekly We know that consumers will continue to push economic growth this fall and winter for several reasons. Firstly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly JOLTS report showed 3.6 million job openings (yellow line), and more than 4 … Continue reading

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Two Percent Growth Isn’t ‘New’ Normal

Popular Economics Weekly There are many ways to look at the “weak” 2 percent growth numbers for Q3, though just the ‘Advance Estimate’ and so subject to at least 2 more revisions. But such weak growth isn’t due to excessive … Continue reading

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Increased Consumer Spending a Good Sign

Financial FAQs The most recent retail sales show consumers are able to spend more, even as they borrow more. Add to that credit card delinquencies are at an 18-year low, according to credit reporting company Transunion Corp., and we have … Continue reading

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Dear Supercommittee: “It’s Consumer Spending, Stupid!”

Financial FAQs “With only about a month remaining before its recommendations are due, lawmakers on the congressional supercommittee charged with finding savings from the federal budget wrestled with cuts to defense, foreign aid and other programs on Wednesday”, said Bloomberg … Continue reading

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Consumers Financial Health Improving

Popular Economics Weekly   Consumers’ financial health continues to improve. They are managing to both save and spend more, in spite of worries about both federal and state deficits. In fact, deficits don’t seem to matter to consumers, at least, … Continue reading

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Why the Housing Bubble?

The Mortgage Corner Historical hindsight is always 20-20, but why didn’t economists and the Fed act sooner to deflate the housing bubble? By waiting until 2006 to tighten credit, the Federal Reserve allowed overbuilding of the housing sector that resulted … Continue reading

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