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Thursday, November 20, 2014

General Economics

News                                                                                                                             
Wall Street Journal | U.S. Consumer Prices Unchanged in October
U.S. consumer prices held steady last month, the latest sign of weak inflation at home amid soft energy prices and slow growth abroad.
Wall Street Journal | Jobless Claims Fall in Latest Sign of Improving Labor Market
Initial claims for unemployment benefits decreased by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 291,000 in the week ended Nov. 15, the Labor Department said Thursday. That was slightly above the 283,000 claims forecast by economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal.

Econ Comments & Analysis                                                                                            
Wall Street Journal | What the Inequality Warriors Really Want
Progressives decry inequality as the world’s most pressing economic problem. In its name, they urge much greater income and wealth taxation, especially of the reviled top 1% of earners, along with more government spending and controls—higher minimum wages, “living” wages, comparable worth directives, CEO pay caps, etc.
Market Watch | U.S. still in early stage of growth cycle, Goldman economist says
With the U.S. having added 200,000 jobs each month for the last nine, it’s worth asking just how much juice is left in the current economic recovery.
Alhambra Investment Partners | Crude and Credit Warn Of The Elongated Cycle Double Peak
Next to Japan’s “unexpected” re-acquaintance with recession, the most serious indication of global economic distress has to be oil prices. And where commentary turned to “explaining” Japanese recession as related to a small attempt at fiscal discipline rather than the more debilitating flirtation with intentional debasement, convention surrounding the precipitous plunge in crude is desperately trying to direct toward “supply.”