News
Market Watch | Real unemployment rate is still too high for the Fed
For investors, the biggest risk right now is that the Federal Reserve will lose its nerve and raise interest rates too soon. A premature tightening of policy could undermine the still-fragile economic growth, crash the market and keep millions of people out of work.
Econ Comments & Analysis
Real Clear Markets | Obama's Federal Pay Hike Will Lay a Wet Blanket On Small Business
President Obama's State of the Union announcement that he'll sign an executive order increasing the minimum worker wage for federal contracts from $7.25/hour to $10.10 drew warm applause. This was interesting considering an earlier applause line from the President in which he said "Let's do more to help the entrepreneurs and small business owners who create most new jobs in America."
AEI | On unemployment, Obama's small ball won't cut it
When asked which of four phrases best describes how they feel about the remainder of President Obama’s second term, a combined 59 percent of Americans say they are “pessimistic and worried” or “uncertain and wondering,” versus only 40 percent who say they are “optimistic and confident” or “satisfied and hopeful.”
Blogs
WSJ | Who Has a Higher Minimum Wage Than the Federal Rate?
President Barack Obama plans to act unilaterally to raise the minimum wage for employees of federal contractors, while pressing Congress for a broader increase in the State of the Union address.
WSJ | Obama’s Minimum Wage Order: How Much Impact?
Republican lawmakers challenged President Barack Obama’s plan to raise the minimum wage for employees of federal contractors, suggesting it would have little impact on workers and could exacerbate partisan gridlock.
WSJ | State Unemployment Ranged From 2.6% to 9.1% in December
Thirty states added jobs in December and the unemployment rate fell in 39, signs of steady improvement in the labor market across much of the U.S.
