Bitcoin’s Status as Currency Undermined
New research may undermine Bitcoin's efforts to be treated as a viable means of exchange for products and services. Is the use of Bitcoin as a currency as risky as many forms of gambling?
Economy
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Newest first · Page 312Consumer Sentiment Holds Strong in December
ThinkstockThe revised consumer sentiment report from Reuters/University of Michigan is out, and the second December reading hit 82.5 for the month. The prior report was also 82.5, and the Bloomberg consensus estimate was 83.5…
Americans’ Income Inches Higher, Spending Picks Up Again: Census Bureau
New U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data show that personal income in current dollars grew by 0.2% month over month and personal spending rose by 0.5% in November.
North Dakota Unemployment Rate Drops to 2.6%
States with very small populations continue to have an unemployment edge over more populous states. The unemployment rate in North Dakota dropped to 2.6% last month.
Many Would Keep Jobs After Winning Lottery
Mega MillionsNot everyone would quit a job, leave on extended vacation, and never come back. According to a new poll from Gallup, people who like their jobs would keep working–perhaps after a brief break.…
U.S. GDP: Boom!
ThinkstockThe U.S. Census Bureau reported Friday morning that its third estimate of third-quarter U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) rose at an annual rate of 4.1%. That was sharply higher than the 2.5% growth rate…
Credit Rating Downgrade Puts EU on Par With U.S.
Standard & Poor's downgrade of European Union long-term debt to AA+ puts it on par with the rating of the long-term debt of the United States.
Contentious Budget Talks Prompt S&P Downgrade of EU Credit Rating
Standard & Poor's has lowered its long-term credit rating on the European Union, citing threats to its cohesion, contentious budget talks and deteriorating creditworthiness of its member nations.
Record Numbers Say Big Government Greatest Threat
ThinkstockPerhaps roadblocks set in front of key legislation, growing budget deficits, anxiety about the national debt, spying on citizens and an overall lack of direction have turned Americans against Congress in record numbers, as…
Bernanke and the Fed: The QE Taper Is Here!
ThinkstockThe Federal Open Market Committee just finished what is very likely its last or next to last real decision-making meeting under Ben Bernanke. The long and short of the matter is that Tapering has…
Why Detroit Cannot Be Fixed
ThinkstockThe idea behind saving Detroit is that, if most of its debt and pension obligations are wiped out in bankruptcy court, the city can operate mostly unencumbered with what have been huge, obligatory outflows…
Labor Department and CPI: From Not Enough Inflation to No Inflation
ThinkstockThe Federal Reserve is due to start its two-day FOMC meeting to determine whether to taper its bond buying activities under its quantitative easing measure. If the Labor Department’s report on inflation is accurate,…
A Record Number of Americans to Hit the Road for the Holidays
ThinkstockThe U.S. economy is still sluggish and the consumer remains cautious. Yet between Saturday, December 21, and Wednesday, January 1, almost a third of Americans plan to hit the road, according to AAA. That…
Worldwide Median Household Income at $10,000
ThinkstockMuch of the conversation about wealth centers on the top 1% or 5% in America who have extraordinarily high income and net worth. The divide between “haves” and “have nots” becomes much greater when…
North Korean Economy by the Numbers — Too Tiny to Matter
ThinkstockNorth Korea has been in the headlines, heavily in recent days as the No.2 leader, Jang Song Thaek, was executed by his nephew Kim Jong Un–the current No.1 of the isolated country. Before that, the concern…