Analysis Topic: Economic Trends Analysis
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.Sunday, July 12, 2009
Obama Rejects Second Economic Stimulus / Economics / Economic Stimulus
After sitting on the fence for weeks as noted in Battle Lines Form Over "Son of Stimulus" president Obama finally makes up his mind.
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Saturday, July 11, 2009
Secular Economic Stagnation / Economics / Recession 2008 - 2010
Two weeks ago, I indicated that I had gone into a full, risk neutral hedge on my call options portfolio. This, of course, was equivalent to a call to cash in light of weakening market conditions. Since that time, the market has continued to deteriorate technically, and this technical deterioration clearly reflects uncertainties over economic fundamentals. This call to hedge or cash remains in play.
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Saturday, July 11, 2009
America is Now the World’s Biggest Debtor Nation / Economics / US Debt
Bob Chapman writes: The latest Treasury auction of $19 billion of 10-year notes was at a yield of 3.365%. The bid to cover was 3.28 to 1, the highest ever. This was the third of four sales this week totaling $73 billion.
Consumer credit fell $3.23 billion in May, as credit fell 1.5% to $2.5196 trillion from $2.522 trillion in April. Four monthly declines matches June-December of 1991. Big loans fell $400 million, or 0.3%. Revolving credit fell $2.9 billion, or at a 3.7% rate.
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Saturday, July 11, 2009
When Will The Economic Recovery Begin? Never / Economics / Recession 2008 - 2010
Robert Reich writes: The so-called "green shoots" of recovery are turning brown in the scorching summer sun. In fact, the whole debate about when and how a recovery will begin is wrongly framed.
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Saturday, July 11, 2009
The Deflation Survival Guide, 60 page ebook Download Now for Free / Economics / Deflation
Our friends at Elliott Wave International put together an expansive Deflation Survival Guide. The free 60-page eBook is packed with Robert Prechter's most important teachings and warnings about deflation. This is one of the most valuable resources EWI has ever offered at no cost. Learn more below or download it now – for free.
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Friday, July 10, 2009
Japan's Economy Continues to Collapse, No End to the Depression / Economics / Great Depression II
Japanese machine orders just sank to a 22-year low...
IF WE ARE SLIPPING into a Japan-style depression, as signaled perhaps by the swollen demand (and supply) for government debt worldwide, then recovery might take longer than almost anyone guesses.
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Friday, July 10, 2009
Global Growth Surprises 2010, Germany and Brazil to Outperform China and India / Economics / Emerging Markets
Martin Hutchinson writes: Markets were cheered Wednesday when the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected global growth of 2.5% for 2010, a slight increase from its earlier forecast of 1.9% growth.
That’s good news for investors – but consumers in the United States and investors focused on it may not see much benefit.
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Friday, July 10, 2009
U.S. Unemployment Claims: How Bad are the "Real" Numbers? / Economics / Recession 2008 - 2010
As noted in Continuing Claims Soar by 159,000 to New Record the record continuing claims number is dramatically understated by over 2.5 million. Charts of what is really happening are shown below but first let's recap the data as reported by the Department of Labor.
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Friday, July 10, 2009
United States Heading For National Socialism Economy / Economics / US Economy
It was common on the left to intimate that George W. Bush was like Hitler, a remark that would drive the National Review crowd through the roof but which I didn't find entirely outrageous. Bush's main method of governance was to stir up fear of foreign enemies and instigate a kind of nationalist hysteria about the need for waging war and giving up liberty through security.
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Thursday, July 09, 2009
34 Million Americans Now on Food Stamps / Economics / Recession 2008 - 2010
Earlier today, in Continuing Claims Soar by 159,000 to New Record; Initial Jobless Claims Skewed By Autos I noted The peak in initial claims might be in but the peak in unemployment has not. Moreover, reported continuing claims hit 6.883 million, setting a new all time record.
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Thursday, July 09, 2009
Iceland's Banking Crisis: The Meltdown of an Interventionist Financial System / Economics / Credit Crisis 2008
By Philipp Bagus and David Howden: [Editor note: If you are interested in helping to fund the writing, publication, and distribution of a longer version of this article, with more technical detail and analytics, please write the development department.]
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Wednesday, July 08, 2009
When Economic Stimulus Does Not Stimulate / Economics / Economic Stimulus
Shawn Ritenour writes: A majority of Americans now give President Obama's handling of the economy a negative rating and many economists and city officials are concerned that Obama's gargantuan stimulus effort has not given the expected quick boost to the economy. Some argue this is because funds have been slow in coming due to bureaucratic red tape meant to ensure that the money spent will not be wasted.
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Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Unemployment, Not the Stock Market, Distinguishes a Recession From a Depression / Economics / Great Depression II
Claus Vogt writes: What are the most important and enduring characteristics of the Great Depression? And what should we monitor to determine how severe today’s situation really is?
The stock market will give important clues. But the economy, especially unemployment, defines depressions.
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Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Battle Lines Form Over "Son of Economic Stimulus" / Economics / Economic Stimulus
Although very little of the stimulus money approved by Congress has actually been spent, many are making the case for throwing still more money at the problem.
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Wednesday, July 08, 2009
HyperInflation or Deflation? / Economics / Inflation
At present, the investment community is divided as to whether the world economy faces hyperinflation or deflation. Some observers are convinced that the central banks’ printing press will take the world towards hyperinflation whereas others believe that the ongoing contraction in American private-sector debt will result in outright deflation. So, what will the future bring?
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Tuesday, July 07, 2009
The Passing of Billy Mays Will Boost My Personal Saving Rate / Economics / US Economy
This is meant as no disrespect to the family of Billy Mays. Rather, it is intended as utmost admiration of the man. My house and garage are full of the products - almost two of each product - that Billy Mays advertised on basic cable television. He was one of the best salespersons I have ever seen. I would purchase almost anything Billy Mays was selling.Read full article... Read full article...
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
U.S. State Budget Gaps and Investment Implications / Economics / Recession 2008 - 2010
State budgets are a shambles. Sales taxes, corporate taxes, personal income taxes and other taxes are being raised all over the country. The budget problems and consequential taxes will impact municipal bond rates and default risk, and after-tax investment returns on many forms of investment.
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Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Credit Expansion, Crisis, and the Myth of the Saving Glut / Economics / Economic Theory
George Reisman writes: Readers who are already familiar with the nature of credit expansion and the concepts of standard money and fiduciary media should skip the first section. Readers who are also already familiar with the role of credit expansion and fiduciary media in generating the stock market and real estate bubbles should skip the second section as well and proceed directly to the third section "Evasion of Responsibility for the Bubbles."
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Monday, July 06, 2009
Inflation or Deflation, Make Sure You Get This One Right / Economics / Deflation
There are those who sweat over every decision, worrying about how it will affect their lives and investments. Then there is the school of thought that we should focus on the big decisions. I am of the latter school.
85% of investment returns are a result of asset class allocations and only 15% come from actually picking investment within the asset class. Getting the big picture right is critical. In this week's Outside the Box we look at a very well written essay about the biggest of all question in front of us today. Do we face deflation or inflation?
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Monday, July 06, 2009
Yes, We're Still in a Recession / Economics / Recession 2008 - 2010
In the words of Maxwell Smart…missed it by that much! The jobs report came in much worse than expected and forced investors to review their “green shoots” thesis and pushing down stocks by 200 points in the process. One of the more interesting points about the jobs data is in the past seven recession since WWII, this one has shown the greatest percentage loss of jobs and unless it bottoms right now, will be the longest decline in jobs, beating the ’73-’74 recession.
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