Here We Go Again

May 12, 2023 Once again our leaders in Washington are playing a dangerous game of chicken with debt limit legislation.  Thus far the markets are largely ignoring the issue, and for good reason.  Congress has acted on 78 separate occasions since 1960 to raise the debt...

Barking Up the Wrong Tree

May 5, 2023 Data for the second quarter are beginning to filter in.  One has to squint closely to find signs of further slowing in the pace of economic activity.  Payroll employment rose 253 thousand in April.  The unemployment rate declined 0.1% to 3.4%.  Car sales...

How Bad Off Are You?

April 28, 2023 One of the biggest economic puzzles today is the surprising divergence between consumer confidence, which has plummeted, and consumer spending which has continued to climb at a moderate pace.  That makes absolutely no sense.  If we are as scared as we...

Average Weekly Earnings

April 27, 2023 Average weekly earnings was essentially nchanged in March at $1,141.39 after having declined 0.1% in February.  In the past year weeky earnings have risen 3.3%.  T hat is a respectable gain in nominal earnings. However, weekly earnings have been eroded...