So much for scaling back. The world’s rich and elite — or those who just want to appear so — have been cracking open their wallets in a big way lately, and luxury automakers are the beneficiaries.
Economic Indicators
Can the U.S. Dollar Become Almighty Once Again?
A stronger dollar could be a bellwether of an improving economy and a brighter outlook for U.S. stocks.
If There’s No Inflation, Why Are Prices Up So Much?
Many of the costs faced by typical American households are rising faster than the official inflation statistics indicate.
Why Being a Quitter Is a Good Sign for the Economy
You only quit a job when you’re confident you can find something better. And in December, more Americans since the start of the recession felt good enough to pack up their desk and look for employment elsewhere.
Mergers and Acquisitions Boom! Is This a Good Sign for the Economy?
Wall Street dealmakers are off to a busy start to 2013, as some of corporate America’s most recognizable names have become involved in multi-billion-dollar mergers and acquisitions. Just yesterday, American Airlines and US …
Why Can’t This Economy Really Get Going?
A host of factors outside of the government’s control will likely hold back the economy for at least another year.
Why 2013 Will Be Another Huge Year for Car Sales
In 2012, U.S. consumers purchased over one million more new cars than the year before. This year, we’re expected to buy nearly one million more than in 2012. And in 2014? Yep, auto sales are projected to increase by another …
The Best Way to Cut Government Spending: Get Really Tough on Fraud
Fraud and improper payments for government programs amount to $125 billion a year. Reducing those losses substantially would avoid a lot of painful cuts.
Oh No, Canada! Are We Watching Another North American Financial Crisis Unfold?
For some time during and after the financial crisis, it was fashionable to point to Canada as a paragon of fiscal and regulatory prudence. In the years leading up to the crisis, the Canadian government ran budget surpluses, which …
The U.S. Economy Adds 171,000 Jobs in October, but Challenges Remain
Here it is, folks: The final jobs report before the 2012 Presidential Election. The Labor Department announced this morning that the U.S. economy added 171,000 jobs in October, and that the unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth …
Are We Getting the Economic Recovery We Deserve?
During this presidential election cycle, economics and politics are inseparable. The fundamental question voters will have to decide upon when making their choice for President in a few short weeks is whether they believe that …
Household Debt Has Fallen to 2006 Levels, But Not Because We’ve Grown More Frugal
U.S. household debt has finally fallen back to pre-recession levels. So, we’ve finally learned our lesson about spending more than we make, right? Well, not really. The real reason our debt has dipped is that so many Americans …