Stronger economic growth in China

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Sep 13, 2010 in Blog | 0 comments In August the world’s second largest economy, China’s, showed 13.9% growth in industrial production.  Because so much of China’s economy is manufacturing driven this figure is a good approximation of economic health.  The result was the first time in several months that the month over month figure was up, rather than down.  Lastly, the figure also beat economists’...
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Let the vote buying begin

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Sep 7, 2010 in Blog | 0 comments On Wednesday President Barack Obama is expected to announce a number of business-related tax breaks.  Among them are some pretty expensive incentives, for example: An expansion of the research and experimentation tax credit, specifically a focus on railways, runways and roadways.  Estimated cost: $50 billion. A tax credit that would allow businesses to immediately write off 100% of new...
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Accelerating growth in the EU predicted

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Sep 6, 2010 in Blog | 0 comments The President of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, raised his organization’s official forecast for economic growth for the EU for the remainder of 2010 from 1.0% to 1.6%. Analysis: While 0.6% may sound like a meager increase in absolute terms, in percentage terms, that represents a 60% increase in the EU’s growth rate.  That is a big deal.  Remember that it was the...
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Jobs? jobs. jobs!

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Sep 6, 2010 in Blog | 11 comments Department of Labor statistics released Friday show that the aggregate U.S. economy shed 54,000 jobs in August.  Massively contributing to the negative number were the 114,000 census workers whose temporary jobs went bye-bye.  What that means of course is that the private sector added jobs.  How else to account for the 60,000 jobs discrepancy?  How many jobs were added by business?  67,000!...
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Another increase in consumer information

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Sep 2, 2010 in Blog | 0 comments The Obama Administration has enacted another set of rules that I like.  Namely, the Food and Drug Administration is requiring a whole new group of food providers to post nutrition information about the foods they sell.  Now covered are: airlines, trains, grocery-store food courts, movie theaters, and convenience stores.  Technically any food outlet with more than 20 locations is required to post...
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Finally (!): new MPG rules

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Sep 1, 2010 in Blog | 0 comments There for awhile I was starting to wonder if Barack Obama was going to live up to much of the promise of his Administration.  Yes, I love the financial industry overhaul and feel that it was critical for the future economic health of the nation.  But his healthcare obsession and Iraqi/Afghan war efforts have been woeful in my opinion.  Then came the news that… The Environmental Protection...
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Economic stimulus rumors circulating

Posted by Jason Apollo Voss on Sep 1, 2010 in Blog | 0 comments The biz press is full of speculation this morning about economic stimulus packages likely to be suggested by the Obama Administration; just in time for the fall elections.  Most of what is being discussed in extending Bush II-era tax cuts for all but the wealthiest citizens.  Interestingly, my favorite piece of stimulus, temporarily freezing payroll taxes, is being discussed.  I will keep you...
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