News
Bloomberg | European Employers Urge Obama To Advance U.S.-EU Trade
The BusinessEurope employers’ federation called on President Barack Obama to advance trade talks with the European Union in his Feb. 12 State of the Union address.
WSJ | Scant Pickup in Economic Growth Seen for 2013
Economists are forecasting the same steady, if unspectacular, growth this year that they were expecting in 2012. Last year's predictions proved too optimistic, but they say this year the economic fundamentals are sturdier.
Bloomberg | Record Oil Exports Shrink Trade Deficit as U.S. Fills Energy Gap
Record petroleum exports helped shrink the U.S. trade deficit to the smallest in two years as America moves closer to achieving energy self-sufficiency, a goal the nation has been pursuing since the 1973 Arab oil embargo.
Market Watch | Consumer credit increases $14.6 bln in December
U.S. consumers increased their debt in December by a seasonally adjusted $14.6 billion, the Federal Reserve reported Thursday.
Bloomberg | Wholesale Inventories in U.S. Unexpectedly Fell in December
Inventories at U.S. wholesalers unexpectedly fell in December for the first time in six months as companies tried to keep pace with cooling sales.
CNBC | US Citizens Braced for Austerity Impact
From long delays at the nation's airports to huge potential lay-offs of government workers to less accurate weather forecasts, Americans may soon feel the pinch of austerity.
Econ Comments & Analysis
Forbes | The Worst Five Years Since the Great Depression
In February, 2009, I wrote for the Wall Street Journal an article entitled Reaganomics versus Obamanomics. The article explained that the emerging Obamanomics was pursuing exactly the opposite of every policy of the enormously successful Reaganomics, and predicted that it would produce exactly the opposite results.
Fortune | A sign the housing recovery just might stick
Mortgage applications were higher again in January. If individual buyers dominate home sales as opposed to investors, we might see a more sustainable housing recovery.
WSJ | Fed's Stein Sees Risks for Credit Markets
A Federal Reserve official pointed to signs of overheating in some corners of the credit markets and raised uncomfortable questions for the central bank about how to address the trend if it continues.
Blogs
WSJ | Analysis: So Much for That GDP Contraction
The U.S. trade gap narrowed sharply in December, the biggest deficit contraction in nearly four years. The unexpected decline likely means last week’s reported contraction in GDP will be revised to a positive number.
WSJ | Ranking Economists’ 2012 Predictions: The Best and Worst
Arun Raha of power-management company Eaton Corp. was the year’s top economic forecaster, according to the Wall Street Journal’s annual rankings.
