News
Bloomberg | Retail Sales in U.S. Increase Less Than Forecast
Retail sales in the U.S. rose less than forecast and consumer confidence fell to a five-month low, signaling weakness in the world’s largest economy days before Federal Reserve policy makers meet to consider paring stimulus.
Bloomberg | Consumer Sentiment in U.S. Falls to Lowest Since April
Consumer confidence in the U.S. declined in September to the lowest level since April, indicating household spending may take time to pick up.
WSJ | Wealthy, Hispanics, Retirees Among the Most Content in America: Poll
Wealthier Americans are among those most content with their lives, the new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds. So are retirees, Hispanics and Westerners. People in these groups disproportionately rate their lives a solid 10 on a 1-to-10 scale, with a 1 being the depths of personal disappointment.
Bloomberg | Business Inventories in U.S. Rose More Than Forecast in July
Inventories at U.S. companies increased more than forecast in July, trailing a gain in sales that signals a pickup in factory orders.
Econ Comments & Analysis
Fortune | Remembering the families at the center of the financial crisis - See more at: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/09/13/bair-crisis-lehman-anniversary/#sthash.IUmhiuTl.dpuf
The plight of the Americans that were hurt most has been largely forgotten in the power politics that have overcome financial reform. - See more at: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/09/13/bair-crisis-lehman-anniversary/#sthash.IUmhiuTl.dpuf
Forbes | There's No College Tuition 'Bubble': College Education Is Underpriced
Tuition increases are constantly in the news these days. Private colleges have become incredibly expensive (as I know personally, with a daughter currently attending one).
WSJ | How Emerging Markets Can Get Their Mojo Back
Over the past five years, developing economies have been responsible for over two-thirds of global economic growth. Over the past decade, the share of developed-country exports bought by their developing partners has increased to almost 50% from 25%. In recent years China alone has consumed about half the world's cement, iron ore, steel, coal and lead, lifting commodity prices.
Fortune | What should we do about income inequality?
There is no shortage of data about the problem, but when it comes to addressing income inequality, no one seems to have any good suggestions. - See more at: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/09/13/income-inequality/?iid=SF_F_River#sthash.AyOAGitS.dpuf
Mercatus | Average Is Over: Powering America Beyond the Age of the Great Stagnation
Written in the midst of the global financial and fiscal crisis, The Great Stagnation, outlined the causes of the world wide economic slow-down. Average is Over is the users guide to living and prospering in the age of the Great Stagnation.
Heritage Foundation | How to Reform Food Stamps
For decades, farm bills have combined agriculture policy with the food stamps program. These farm bills would have been better deemed “food stamp bills,” as food stamps account for about 80 percent of farm bill costs.
Blogs
Economist | Reasons to be bullish on Chinese banks
Lately there has been much talk among analysts and investors of crippling bad debts at Chinese banks. Although the banks keep reporting bad debts of only about 1% of their total loan balance, few people actually believe those figures. And I certainly don't.
WSJ | The Rebalancing of the World’s Manufacturing Sector
The wage gap between China and the U.S. is shrinking rapidly, and the one-way flow of manufacturing jobs to China has started to turn.
