An improvement in jobless claims

The United States Department of Labor announced this morning that its weekly jobless claims data has improved.  Specifically the data show that the number of people filing for new unemployment benefits fell by 36,000 last week to a level of 383,000.   Because...

Data affirms that houses are affordable

Moody’s Analytics announced data this morning that indicates that homes in the United States are the most affordable they have been since before the massive real estate bubble.  Specifically, the data compare median home prices to median household income.  ...

Obama laying the groundwork for 2012 elections?

Yesterday President Barack Obama spoke before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  His speech was similar to a point I made several months ago when  I called upon business leaders in the United States to start spending some of their hoarded $2 trillion in cash to hire new...

A proactive China is a good thing

Early this morning the Chinese central bank announced that it was going to raise its benchmark interest rates for deposits and lending by another 0.25%.  Specifically, the benchmark rates are: 5.81-6.06% for lending and 2.75-3.00% for deposits.  This is the third...