News
Bloomberg | Comfort Index Climbs as U.S. Economy Views Reach Five-Year High
Consumer confidence rose last week as an improving job market helped make Americans the least pessimistic about the economy in more than five years.
CNN Money | Housing markets where cash is king
"The U.S. housing market is slowly but surely moving toward a more normalized and sustainable pattern after a flurry of institutional and cash buyers flocked to residential real estate last year, pushing up prices and picking clean the best inventory available in many areas," said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac.
Bloomberg | Orders for U.S. Durable Goods Increase More Than Forecast
Orders for U.S. durable goods rose more than forecast in June, showing a pickup in demand that will help propel manufacturing and the economy in the second half of the year.
MSN Money | An unstable recovery built on debt
Don't be fooled by the huge run in the US stock market and the rebound in the housing market. The financial crisis never really ended, and its effects continue to roil the global economy.
Econ Comments & Analysis
WSJ | Facing Up to America's Pension Woes
Right after Detroit filed for bankruptcy under federal law last week, Michigan's Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina issued a set of rulings that attempted to stop the process cold—she worried that a bankruptcy would restructure Detroit city workers' pensions in violation of the state constitution.
Mercatus | The Government Has Your Data at Its Fingertips
As news broke about the Internal Revenue Service’s accidental disclosure of thousands of social security numbers online, a representative of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau testified before a subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee about the CFPB’s use of Americans’ personal financial data.
WSJ | SEC Rules Will Clip the Wings of Angel Investors
Following through on a key provision of last year's JOBS Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission has ended the ban on the general solicitation of capital for privately offered securities. The agency's action is being hailed as a boon that will open the door for vast stores of money that entrepreneurs can use to start up new businesses and hire workers. More likely, the SEC's move could slam the door shut.
Forbes | 10 Reasons The Best Time To Start A Business Is During A Downturn
Recessions are hard times. People lose their jobs, companies get wound up, and the lucky ones take the losses from their cash reserves. While the U.S. may not technically be in a recession right now, there’s still plenty of uncertainty and talk about dark clouds on the horizon.
WSJ | The Inequality President
President Obama made his fourth or fifth, or maybe it's the seventh or eighth, pivot to the economy on Wednesday, and a revealing speech it was. We counted four mentions of "growth" but "inequality" got five. This goes a long way to explaining why Mr. Obama is still bemoaning the state of the economy five years into his Presidency.
