Tag Archives: economics

Elevated Rates Endangering Economy

Financial FAQs Early predictions show first quarter economic growth picking up, but a little-known indicator of future growth, the Conference Board’s Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) in March highlighted the danger that high interest rates hold for future growth. … Continue reading

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Retail Sales Boost Q1 Growth

Financial FAQs Consumers haven’t slowed shopping, even during tax season. They keep boosting economic growth which is edging above annual predictions of 2 percent again. FREDretailsales Retail trade sales were up 0.8 percent (±0.5 percent) from February 2024, and up … Continue reading

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Inflation Still Declining

Popular Economics Weekly The inflation rate for wholesale goods and services (PPI) is still declining, which will hearten the inflation doves after yesterday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) seems to be stuck in a 3 percent range. So, the Fed has … Continue reading

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March Payrolls Soaring

Popular Economics Weekly I said last week I don’t believe Wall Street investors are irrationally exuberant at present, contrary to those that say we are now in a stock market bubble with the record level S&P and DOW indexes. That’s … Continue reading

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Economic Facts Can Win

Financial FAQs Here’s another reason we have avoided a recession. Regardless of the looming tax bills due in April that traditionally causes consumers to save more and spend less, consumers are spending more and saving less, per the BEA’s Personal … Continue reading

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Irrational Exuberance vs. Irrational Pessimism?

Popular Economics Weekly I don’t believe Wall Street investors are irrationally exuberant at present, contrary to those that say we are now in a stock market bubble with the record level S&P and DOW indexes. It’s as easy to be … Continue reading

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Too Much Irrational Exuberance?

Popular Economics Weekly Are Wall Street investors irrationality exuberant? Former Bond King and CEO of the PIMCO bond fund Bill Gross thinks so. Irrational exuberance is a term coined by former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan in 1996 to describe the … Continue reading

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Consumers Want More Stability

The Mortgage Corner More consumers, and most Americans, are deciding they want calm after the instability of the Pandemic era. They are craving fewer economic disruptions for starters, such as the partisan wars that have stymied budget negotiations. “Nearly three-quarters … Continue reading

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More Jobs Ahead?

Financial FAQs  The US economy hasn’t slowed. Fourth quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was revised downward from 3.3 percent to 3.2 percent in the second estimate, and predictions for first quarter 2024 GDP growth are hovering between 2-3 percent. … Continue reading

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Why the Inflation Debate?

The Mortgage Corner This month’s Consumer Price index looked hotter at first glance, but it wasn’t. It was slightly cooler, so there was no real reason for yesterday’s 500 pt. plunge in the DOW. That’s where the debate is raging … Continue reading

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