ThinkstockU.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013 totaled $16.8 trillion dollars, but how much more could it have been if the United States counted income from drug sales and prostitution? Beginning this year the…
ThinkstockWhen the United Kingdom reports its gross domestic product (GDP) for 2014 in September, the figure for the first time will include an estimate that covers the importation, production and sale of illegal drugs…
ThinkstockChicago Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) is showing a much stronger read than anticipated for the month of May. After weak readings in income and spending, this at least leans a bit more toward a…
ThinkstockPersonal income and spending data do not exactly give the brightest picture for the month of April. Friday’s report from the U.S. Department of Commerce showed that personal income rose by 0.3% and spending…
ThinkstockSince reporting Q1 earnings last month, less-than-truckload weight (LTL) trucker Old Dominion Freight Line (NASDAQ: ODFL) shares have stomped the gas, and rushed ahead 12% already. This week, the company made an announcement that…
ThinkstockThe U.S. Labor Department has some good news, particularly in light of the Commerce Department revising first-quarter GDP to -1.0%. Weekly jobless claims fell by 27,000, down to 300,000, in the past week. Dow…
ThinkstockThe Commerce Department’s revision for first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) was even worse than the prior report, and even worse than economists were predicting. The preliminary report was up 0.1% in the first quarter,…
Unemployment remains more than 20% in two of America’s metro areas, and above 15% in a number of others. While the recession may be over throughout most of the United States, it lingers in…
ThinkstockTuesday morning already brought a higher than expected durable goods economic report. Now we have a consumer confidence reading from the Conference Board, covering the month of May. Confidence rose to 83.0 in May…
Courtesy EADS/AirbusDurable goods is generally considered to be one of the most volatile economic reports issued each month. The Commerce Department also showed that durable goods was very strong on the headline data, but…
ThinkstockHow hard is it to save for a secure retirement? Nearly half of Americans in a recent survey said it is not possible for a middle-income family to save for retirement. Almost 25% said…
Image via Minnesota Vikings.The Minnesota Vikings weren’t winners on the football field last year, but they just won a very important bid. The team’s new billion-dollar stadium, set to be built where the old…
ThinkstockThe Fitch announcement on Greece debt upgrade: Fitch Ratings has upgraded Greece’s Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to ‘B’ from ‘B-‘. The Outlooks are Stable. The issue ratings on…
National economic activity declined sharply in April, according to the Chicago Federal Reserve National Activity Index released today. After clocking in at a revised 0.34 for March, April saw economic activity slump to -0.32. Based…
ThinkstockGet ready for a busy travel session this Memorial Day weekend. While this national holiday has no real gift-giving associated with it, Memorial Day has a big contribution to the economy. It marks the…