News
Bloomberg | Euro-Area Economic Confidence Rises More Than Estimated: Economy
Economic confidence in the euro area increased more than economists forecast in February, adding to signs that the 17-nation currency bloc may be emerging from a recession.
CNN Money | Wealth inequality between blacks and whites worsens
The wealth gap between blacks and whites has nearly tripled over the past 25 years, due largely to inequality in home ownership, income, education and inheritances, according to a new study by Brandeis University.
Bloomberg | Confidence Jump With Housing Points to U.S. Growth: Economy
Purchases of new homes surged in January by the most in two decades and consumer confidence jumped this month, signs of a rebound in U.S. economic growth at the start of 2013.
Bloomberg | Orders for U.S. Non-Transportation Goods Jump Most in a Year
Orders for U.S. durable goods excluding transportation equipment climbed in January by the most in a year, indicating business investment is holding up.
CNN Money | The myth of the Great Rotation
As investors begin to dip back into the stock market, chatter about a so-called Great Rotation has been growing louder.
Econ Comments & Analysis
Politico | Entitlement reform key to U.S. future
As the sequester blame game hits fever pitch this week, Republicans’ stance on taxes is simply indefensible, falling hundreds of billions short of even their own prior positions. But as Democrats, we also share a large portion of responsibility for the coming cuts to domestic discretionary spending, as the party has decided in both action and rhetoric that meaningful fixes to the major entitlement programs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are off-limits.
Washington Times | Crowding out the future
Big-spending liberals will soon run out of other people’s money. This should scare them straight. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment benefits, food stamps and other welfare programs reaching deep into American pockets will soon leave no money for anything else. Yet the White House and congressional Democrats are determined not to touch anything.
Blogs
WSJ | About 30% of Benefit Recipients Are Disabled
Nearly a third of Americans getting government assistance say they are disabled, new research shows.
Calculated Risk | MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease
The Refinance Index decreased 3 percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 5 percent from one week earlier and is at its lowest level since the week ending December 28, 2012.
