Consumer Fear of High Gas Prices Spreads
Economists and government officials have tried to figure out or guess the point at which new, high gas prices will undermine economic growth and consumer spending. There is no single answer. For people who…
All Work
Douglas A. McIntyre
Airlines Finally Get Tough on Boeing and Airbus Flaws
Two brand new planes — the Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner and Airbus super jumbo A380 — have developed cracks. It is an extraordinary piece of news, given the years it took to design, build and test…
Housing Problems Depend on the House
News about the housing market leads many Americans to think that no one was spared in the downturn. That is not so. While 20% of mortgages are underwater, 80% are not. Many homes bought…
Car Companies Face Dying Growth In Chinese Market
The market value of General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Volkswagen, two of the largest car companies in the world, rely a great deal on their dominant positions in the Chinese market. That market now…
Alzheimer’s and the Economy
Many of the medical costs that Congress has begun to battle can be controlled. There is an argument this includes the cost of Medicare, Medicaid, drugs, doctor visits and preventable diseases. People who live lives…
What’s Important in the Financial World (3/9/2012) Keystone XL Rejection, China Inflation
China’s consumer inflation reached a 20-month low as it increased only 3.2% in February. The data indicate that a number of new trends have taken hold in the People’s Republic. The first is that…
Media Digest (3/9/2012) Reuters, WSJ, NYT, FT, Bloomberg
The Fed is unlikely to act with bond purchases if February unemployment figures are good. (Reuters) Low inflation in China could drive banks there to ease capital requirements to increase credit access. (Reuters) Google…
China Slowdown Or Greek Recovery–Brent Stays Above $125
Brent crude is still at nearly an all-time high of $125. If the price persists, many experts believe it could curtail much of the world’s economy. Traders faced two conflicting pieces of news. The…
The Greeks Get Their Bailout, Finally
Greece now have all of the players for its bailout in place. The IMF and EU agreed that austerity is in place enough that it will lower deficits, and, at some point in the distant future, the national…
The Fight Over Keystone XL Heats Up
The U. S. Senate voted down legislation to rapidly begin construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The president has put the project on hold. The cost of the infrastructure would be well over $7 billion, and would almost…
The Economy Adds 200,000? What The Jobs Reports Means
Economists, based on consensus numbers, believe the eocnomy added 200,000 new jobs in February. ADP reported a 216,000 jump in private payrolls during the month. Challenger Gray said corporate layoffs dropped. Weekly jobless claims…
China Inflation Drops To 3.2%
Inflation in China reached a 20-month low as it moved up only 3.2% in February. The figures show a number of trends which have taken hold in the People’s Republic. No. 1 is that a drop in manufacturing has slowed…
Gallup Data Shows Higher Unemployment
ADP numbers may have shown an addition of 216,000 jobs to private payrolls last month. Positive news from ADP usually means the the government figures for joblessness will be good. The consensus of economists is that there…
An Unrealistic Goal for Women Executives
It is International Women’s Day. One of the hallmarks of the day is that women have used it to press for more equal pay and jobs opportunities. Research firm Catalyst, which follows the highest…
The End of Chrysler’s Smooth Road
The recent news from Chrysler has been almost all good. U.S. sales rose 40% in February, well outdistancing the improvement for most of its rivals. The car maker repaid $7 billion in loans given…
In Air France/KLM Results, a Foreshadowing of Airline Trouble
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global airline industry association, warned in its annual forecast that the economy could hurt earnings of carriers around the world in 2012, particularly in Europe. The group…
What’s Important in the Financial World (3/8/2012) AIG Stock Sale, Greek Debt Swap
The Greek government probably will get its way as it puts finishing touches on its debt restructuring. The aid from its neighbors, the International Monetary Fund and, indirectly, the European Central Bank is nearly…
Media Digest (3/8/2012) Reuters, WSJ, NYT, FT, Marketwatch
The CEO of Chrysler said he took no pay in 2011 and that, based on financial results, the company is now worth $7.5 billion. (Reuters) The Treasury will sell $6 billion of AIG (NYSE:…
China Cyber Attack Looms
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has finished a study which shows that China has a growing ability to launch a huge cyber-attack on the America. Northrup Grumman (NYSE: NOC) researched and authored…
Japan Trade Deficit At Record
The value of the yen and the need for Japan to import oil and other key commodities, married with lower demand for its exports–probably fueled by near recession level economic condition in Europe–took the…