Tag Archives: economics

Where’s the Recession?

Financial FAQs The most recent Harris-Guardian poll found 56 percent of those surveyed thought the US was in a recession. And 49 percent believed unemployment was at a 50-year high. How is that possible when the economic facts are exactly … Continue reading

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Q2 Economic Growth Any Better?

The Mortgage Corner The initial estimate of first quarter 2024 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was less than expected (1.6%), causing financial markets to panic, even though economic growth is better than the initial estimate is reporting, I said last … Continue reading

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Why the Inflation Confusion?

Popular Economics Weekly Most pundits (and propagandists) don’t know who to blame for ‘sticky’ inflation, so they blame those who haven’t caused it—such as the current administration or the Federal Reserve. But the sudden rise in prices of the past … Continue reading

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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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