It wasn’t what the Obama Administration wanted to hear. The new employment figures out this morning show that the U.S. economy created a mere 96,000 jobs in August, far fewer than the 130,000 that most economists were …
Economy
Why Isn’t There More Inflation?
Huge deficits and ultra-low interest rates should have led to serious inflation by now. The great mystery of the past three years is why they haven’t.
Is U.S. Economic Growth a Thing of the Past?
The U.S. and economic growth have consistently gone hand in hand. The country’s history has consistently been accompanied by economic progress, and since the end of World War II, the U.S. economy has averaged GDP growth of more …
Bernanke Stands Pat: No New QE (For Now)
While most Americans have their minds squarely fixed on beach and barbecue plans this weekend, market participants had their eyes an ears affixed to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s speech this morning in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The …
Hurricane Isaac Causes Billions in Damage, But Far Less Than Katrina
After stalling for days over Louisiana and Mississippi, it’s estimated that Hurricane Isaac could cause up to $2 billion in onshore economic damage.
When Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans seven years ago, it left a …
The Strange Allure of the Gold Standard
Some Republicans want to take the country forward by taking us back — way back – to the gold standard. The Republican party platform, approved on Tuesday, warns against the evils of “easy money and loose credit” and calls for …
As the Fiscal Cliff Nears, Will Anyone Swerve?
The Six Daunting Financial Problems Facing America
Solutions to the economic problems that the U.S. faces are unpalatable, and there’s a dangerous temptation to avoid dealing with fundamental issues.
Is the Stock Market Really Dying?
Pessimism is often most widespread when a long period of economic troubles is nearing an end. What follows can be a surprisingly strong rebound.
9 Reasons Why This Economy Feels So Bad
The recent slump has been unusually painful, and the feeble recovery has been disappointing. But today’s economy seems even worse than it actually is
Start-Ups Create Jobs, Right? So Let’s Stop Praising Small Businesses — and Fund More
By pretty much any measure, lending to American small businesses is weak. Most recently, small business borrowing dropped 5% from May to June, according to the research firm PayNet, which tracks such lending. And while May’s …
Unemployment Rate Ticks Up to 8.3% — But There’s Good News, Too
The unemployment rate rose to 8.3% in July, but it’s probably the most hopeful jobs report in months.