Tick. Tick. Tick. It’s like that scene in “Goldfinger,” where the seconds are ticking down and James Bond is trying to defuse the bomb. He succeeds, of course, just in…
Ignoring the Cliff
The fiscal cliff beckons and, as previously predicted, a resolution is unlikely. So let’s ignore the cliff this week and consider what’s happening elsewhere. Viva Europe! Last week was a good…
The Black Cloud in the Silver Lining
All I want for Christmas is a new economy. Ours is broken. While there are a few positive signs that optimists can latch onto, it appears that either the country…
So This Is Compromise?
“We are both heading for the cliff. Who jumps first is the Chicken.” …
Looking Over the Fiscal Cliff
You’ve heard plenty about the fiscal cliff. But little attention has been paid to what’s beyond it. What’s beyond it is another higher, steeper cliff. The federal debt now exceeds…
Housing Showing Signs of Recovery
We’re in a business where it’s good to worry; if we didn’t worry, we might take on too much risk, to the detriment of our clients. But we recognize that…
U.S. vs. China
As China has emerged as a world power, it has increasingly been a case of Us (as in U.S.) vs. Them. Not in military combat, fortunately, but in day-to-day trade…
The End of the Road
The problem with kicking the can down the road is that sooner or later, the road ends. Evidence of this can be found in recent stock market performance. Quantitative easing…
Unemployment Drops … Just In Time for the Election!
The unemployment rate has finally dropped below 8% to 7.8%! Or has it? Really? The latest numbers are a head scratcher. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (that’s BLS, not BS)…
This Is Progress?
Economic growth for the second quarter of 2012 officially has been revised down to 1.25%, which is below the lowest previous estimate. In an effort to stimulate the economy, the…