Animated Unemployment
Lance on Nov 21 2009 | Filed under: Economic Indicators, Economics, Employment, economy
A very cool animated Graphic showing the change in unemployment over the last two years.
Click Image for Animation
Archive for the 'economy' Category
Taking a Closer Look at Unemployment
Lance on Nov 08 2009 | Filed under: Economic Indicators, Employment, economy
Employment as measured by the “establishment survey,” was down by 190,000; and Many feel it is an improvement that we are not falling as fast.
Well, let us take a moment to look under the hood of these numbers. First, while the establishment survey was down 190k, the number of unemployed soared by 558,000, to [...]
Green Shoots and Brown Weeds
Lance on Jun 19 2009 | Filed under: Currency, Dollar, Economic Indicators, Economics, Employment, Federal Reserve, Government policy, Housing Market, Inflation, economy
We conducted our first webcast last week, an update on the housing market, unemployment and the economy. We had a couple of technical issues which were a bit distracting, and we need a new microphone, but all in all a fair overview of the economy which was well received by those who attended. The webcast [...]
A Painful Restructuring
Lance on Mar 07 2009 | Filed under: Economic Indicators, Employment, economy
An excellent overview of the dramatic restructuring of the US economy at the NY Times.
Click for larger version of charts.
Bad Housing Solutions, They Keep Coming
Lance on Dec 19 2008 | Filed under: Government policy, Housing Market, economy
I have already given the only measure that I think makes sense when it comes to the housing crisis, but people keep coming up with others. Like most of the ideas coming out to deal with this crisis, Glenn Hubbard and Charlie Mayer try to convince us that the way to deal with our credit [...]
Step Right Up! It’s Your Bailout Too!
Lance on Dec 03 2008 | Filed under: Humor, economy
I hear repeatedly from our fellow citizens “where is my bailout?” For those who have been wondering the fine journalists at Vanity Fair have found the paperwork so you can begin applying now for, as the application says, “free government cash.” (Click image for Large Version.)
Our Government’s Economic Policy Explained
Lance on Dec 02 2008 | Filed under: Economics, Government policy, Humor, Politics, economy
By Fred Thompson. With only the most minor quibbles I not only laughed, but cried. Pretty much dead on:
The sad thing is that it isn’t only “liberal” economists, it is the meat of the profession and plenty of so called “conservative” politicians.
Hat Tip: McQ
Light at the End of the Housing Tunnel? Fail!
Lance on Nov 25 2008 | Filed under: Housing Market, economy
We keep hearing about positive signs month after month, but the latest data on the housing markets shows the pace of declines has been accelerating and widening, not slowing down.
In my opinion this is good. The decline in prices of overvalued assets is a good thing, whether houses, stocks or debt. The problem has been [...]
Jeremy Grantham: A Must Viewing
Lance on Nov 24 2008 | Filed under: Asset Allocation, Emerging Markets, Global Equity, Global Fixed Income, Great Investors, Housing Market, Risk, Valuation, economy
As far as I know Jeremy Grantham has never appeared for the general public on TV or video. We get a real treat from Consuelo Mack of Wealthtrack with Jeremy dispensing advice about where the market is now. Like myself he sees the market as reasonably cheap, but not spectacularly so. He gives sound advice [...]
Peter Schiff’s Payback
Lance on Nov 17 2008 | Filed under: Asset Allocation, Risk, economy
The insufferable Peter Schiff has a video going around, which frankly, is just brilliant. He may be unpleasant at times, but he nailed this thing, and took mounds of abuse while doing so. More importantly, I KNOW HOW HE FEELS!
The resentment, irritation, condescension and, at times, outright hostility to my Cassandra act makes me wish [...]
Are We Making Things Worse?
Lance on Oct 12 2008 | Filed under: Economics, Federal Reserve, economy
Yves Smith hits a theme I have been harping on, the Federal Reserve, and central banks in general, are making things worse in may ways by destroying the incentive for banks to lend or borrow from one another. She quotes James Bianco of Arbor Research:
The Fed’s massive and numerous liquidity facilities are making things worse. [...]
JP Morgan, Lehman and Nightmares
Lance on Oct 05 2008 | Filed under: Federal Reserve, Government policy, economy
I am often asked about individual bank stocks, especially JP Morgan. Generally my answer is that Bank of America, JP Morgan and a few others look to be likely survivors, but how profitable they will be I am really unsure.
JP Morgan is a special discussion, because I point out a rather astonishing fact, they have [...]
Another Reason To Not Like The Plan
Lance on Oct 02 2008 | Filed under: Economics, economy
I have argued in the past that the Federal Reserve’s policies may be helping in some ways, but hurting in others. Way too much borrowing and lending is running through the Fed which is drying up lending between banks. It also reduces the need for banks to find reasons to communicate and trust each other, [...]
In Summary
Lance on Oct 02 2008 | Filed under: Economics, Federal Reserve, Housing Market, economy
Tyler Cowen states his basic views on the crisis. My response in italics:
1. Glass-Steagall repeal was not a major cause of the financial crisis, nor was government-induced “minority lending.”
I agree on the first, the second charge has some validity, but only in terms very different than the typical charge.
2. We should use regulation to [...]
When Are We Being Chicken Littles?
Lance on Oct 01 2008 | Filed under: economy
Let us look at one of the ways that we are being panicked unnecessarily, and why incidentally we can help many of these financial institutions in the fashion I discussed in my post on a potential alternative plan. In my next post we will discuss ways in which we are not being misled, and why [...]
My favorite proposal for helping financial institutions
Lance on Oct 01 2008 | Filed under: economy
I do believe we should be doing something as a nation, through our government, to avoid the not insignificant chance of a total financial meltdown. I have seen several things proposed that I find interesting, and I will get into them and other longer term issues in coming days. I had hoped to address this [...]
Hooray for Mental Health!
Lance on Oct 01 2008 | Filed under: economy
If you support the Paulson bailout plan that is. The New York Times has coverage.
The Senate proposal would cost more than $100 billion and extend and expand many individual and business tax breaks, including tax credits for the production and use of renewable energy sources, like solar energy and wind power.
The bill would also extend [...]
European Fallout
Lance on Sep 30 2008 | Filed under: International Affairs, economy
Yves Smith has picked up on a pet peeve of mine. In the midst of our crisis we have heard all kinds of cat calls about the failure of the “American Model” of financial capitalism, especially from Europeans. I find this fascinating given the far more leveraged and under supervised practices of their banks.
Well Yves, [...]
Six Questions to ask your Advisor: Our Answers
Lance on Aug 25 2008 | Filed under: Asset Allocation, Commodities, Developing Markets, Domestic Equities, Domestic Fixed Income, Emerging Markets, Energy, Federal Reserve, Global Equity, Global Fixed Income, Housing Market, Metals, Risk, Valuation, economy, real estate
Hedge Fund manager Doug Kass has some questions that clients should ask of their advisors. I should point out that everybody has a bad year, I assume we will have a point where we will have to ask these questions in a harsher light of ourselves. However, these questions can separate those who you might [...]
No Housing Bottom in Sight
Lance on Jul 28 2008 | Filed under: Housing Market, economy
Thanks to Barry Ritholtz I found this analysis from Vladimir Klyuev at the IMF, What Goes Up Must Come Down? House Price Dynamics in the United States.
While I have been of the opinion we have a good ways to go, I think these charts are pretty telling. I don’t see anything here to make me [...]
