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Thursday, February 6, 2014

General Economics

News                                                                                                                             
Bloomberg | Trade Deficit Widens More Than Forecast as Exports Decrease
The trade gap expanded 12 percent to $38.7 billion, figures from the Commerce Department showed today in Washington, compared to a median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg that called for a $36 billion gap.
Market Watch | 30-year-mortgage rate falls to 4.23%
The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.23% in the week that ended Feb. 6, hitting the lowest level since November.

Econ Comments & Analysis                                                                                            
USA Today | Many big stocks already in 10% correction
More than half the stocks in the Standard & Poor's 500 — 269 — are already down 10% or more from their recent highs, which is the unofficial definition of a correction
Washington Times | SADAR: Wasting Alaska’s energy bounty
Natural resource exploration and development are key to national independence. However, for the United States, it’s more than merely energy independence.
AEI | The Obamacare poverty trap
Instead of worrying about job losses, liberals celebrated the CBO’s prediction that people will “choose” to work less. They were also pleased to point out that is not just 2.5 million people who will be affected, but even more, as those 2.5 million full-time jobs correspond to many more full part-time jobs or hour reductions.