ThinkstockThe federal government shutdown for lack of congressional action either on a new fiscal year budget or an extension of the fiscal 2013 spending levels has a relatively modest impact on the larger economy.…
ThinkstockWomen made up almost half of the workforce last year, and yet were paid only 77 cents for every dollar men made. This wage gap varies considerably among states. Women in Maryland and Vermont,…
Wikimedia CommonsAmerican’s confidence in the U.S. economy posted a five-year high in May of -7 on Gallup’s economic confidence index. Since then, it has been all downhill, to a September reading of -19. That…
ThinkstockWhat government shutdown woes? Oh, wait. That was not until October 1. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed that its Manufacturing Index grew for the 52nd consecutive month as its Report on Business…
courtesy J.C. Penney Co. Inc.How long is too long before the shutdown of the federal government begins to batter U.S. gross domestic product and the fortunes of a number of industries? In the case…
ThinkstockThe last government shutdown in 1995/1996 lasted more than three weeks. The one that is about to start could last longer. The stakes are not just over the budget and President Obama’s health care…
ThinkstockLast week, the U.S. Census Bureau released its data on poverty in America in 2012. While the overall rate of poverty did not rise from the rate in 2011, it is bad news that…
ThinkstockIf you are a student in kindergarten through 12th grade (or if you are a parent of one), you better get your head back into those school books rather than spending all your time…
Ed Brown, via Wikimedia CommonsThe U.S. Labor Department’s reading on weekly jobless claims is better than expected, and we do not even (supposedly) have the two missing states from the report to point to…
ThinkstockThe latest report from the Federal Reserve is out showing that total household net worth rose again in the second quarter of 2013. The main gains were from real estate and stocks, with a…
ThinkstockThe recent decision from Ben Bernanke and the FOMC to not start tapering bond purchases was supposedly due to the economic strength simply not being on solid enough ground to justify and tolerate the…
ThinkstockDespite all the economic improvements and the controversy around whether Ben Bernanke should have tapered the bond buying, the Conference Board is showing a slight drop in the latest consumer confidence reading. The index…
ThinkstockThe worst terrorist violence in 15 years exploded in Kenya last weekend when a Somalian militant group known as al-Shabaab attacked a shopping mall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. More than 60 people…
ThinkstockAngela Merkel won a third term as Germany’s chancellor. Her Christian Democratic Union and a smaller ally took more than 41% of the vote. If Merkel can create a closely knit coalition, she can rule the…
ThinkstockData from both China and the European Union showed that any post-recession slowdown will not turn into another dip. A few months ago, slowing PMI and EU economic numbers that dropped like a rock…