Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday — just a time to get together with friends and family, to eat, to relax, and to reflect. Thankfully, no one in my family has ever considered shopping on Black Friday, unless it’s…
Category: Economics
Employment in October better than expected, 204,000 jobs added
Given the partial shutdown of the federal government in October, many analysts and commentators were expecting dreary data in the employment report, which was released a week late because of the temporary layoffs. But the numbers looked pretty good. From…
2013 federal deficit comparable to Reagan, Clinton years
The Treasury Department has released the Final Monthly Treasury Statement for FY 2013. The federal government brought in $2.774 trillion dollars for the entire fiscal year and spent $3.454 trillion, for a deficit of $680 billion. So the 2013 deficit…
Will billions in East Coast port spending bring more trade through the Panama Canal?
I’ve read a lot and written some over the last couple of years about the likely impacts on commerce of the Panama Canal expansion and the vast infrastructure spending in the U.S. to expand ports. And I’m pretty cynical about…
Delayed employment report: U.S. economy added 148,000 jobs in Sept.; unemployment rate falls to 7.2%
I would describe the data in this post as fair at best, worrisome at worst. The slow recovery continues. From the BLS report for September that was delayed by the shutdown: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 148,000 in September,…
Amid budget and debt debates, Paul Ryan lists toward the middle: a few thoughts
The government shutdown and debt debate are obviously fluid issues, but we know there will be some lasting fallout after an inevitable deal is struck and the government is funded and debt limited extended as they have to be. In…
JetBlue adding direct service from Savannah to Boston
From USA Today’s JetBlue tabs Savannah for 50th nonstop route from Boston: JetBlue will expand its presence at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, a move that comes before the carrier has even flown its first flight from the airport. JetBlue add…
Georgia House committee looks at music industry in Savannah, across the state
If you’re interested in the music scene and music industry in Savannah, I’d recommend checking out my Sunday City Talk column in the Savannah Morning News: House committee hears about Savannah’s music industry The 5-person state legislative committee is holding…
Kentucky has a Democratic governor who is embracing the ACA
I occasionally post news here regarding my home state of Kentucky. In one of the more interesting political dynamics you’ll see, Kentucky has a Democratic governor, Steve Beshear. He will turn 70 next year and was re-elected in 2011 with…
Economist Nicholas Mangee, “A Moveable Feast” and photos of the Savannah Cotton Exchange interior
I have a huge amount of respect for the work being done by many of my colleagues at Armstrong Atlantic State University. Some of you have gotten at least a taste of Assistant Professor of Economics Nicholas Mangee‘s work via…
U.S. adds 169,000 jobs in August, unemployment rate 7.3 percent
Another decent if unextraordinary jobs report this morning. From the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 169,000 in August, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 7.3 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported…
A quick look at Savannah area home prices
My City Talk column today is about the slight year-over-year increase in Savannah metro area home prices and the likelihood that we could see prices change relatively little for an extended period of time. I cite Zillow’s latest estimates for…
Growing uncertainty about future shipping patterns when Panama Canal expansion is completed
I’ve been spending a lot of time over the last couple of years reading about TEUs, about hub-and-spoke models for cargo transport, about tidal delays, about canal tolls, and on and on and on With the widened Panama Canal likely…
Calculated Risk: “The Future is still Bright!”
I’ve previously noted the optimism of blogger Bill McBride (aka, Calculated Risk) about the medium- and long-term prospects for the U.S. economy. McBride is no sunny ideologue — some even thought him a cynic back in 2005 when he started…