On a global scale, the U.S. economy is massive at close to $19 trillion in size. However, the United States is also the sum of its parts. America represents the union of 50 states and other jurisdictions such as D.C., and all of these state-level economies have their own unique problems to overcome, drivers of…
We began Part 1 with the Donald’s bogus tax day boast that the American economy has come roaring back. But that falsehood merits further debunking because it succinctly embodies the kind of context-free, anti-historical, bad money-populism that prevails on both ends of the Acela Corridor. On this Tax Day, America is strong and roaring back. Paychecks are climbing. Tax rates…
We’ve suspected for a while now that investors weren’t really as bullish as the quick look at the chart would suggest. Mostly, they’re indecisive, not really sure what to expect. After Thursday’s closing bell rang, we know for sure. The S&P 500 topped exactly where we would have expected it to on Wednesday, but with…
We heard it quite frequently mentioned last quarter in restaurant earnings calls: the effect of weather. Any restaurant veteran knows it matters, but how much and over what period of time? Weather does matter, but it impacts unequally and sometimes in short bursts. . Research says that retail spending is positively influenced by sunlight, lower…
Video length: 00:15:16 Rates jumped higher today and stocks didn’t react well. In this video newsletter update find out what kind of options strategies you should be using and what to expect tomorrow. Watch this video right now so you’re not blind sided by the market…
The prompt month May natural gas contract plummeted almost 3% today, initially touching the $2.79 level yesterday and briefly moving below the $2.66 level today. Losses were not significant just at the front of the strip, but rather all along the natural gas strip, as oversupply fears pushed prices through 2019 down just as much. …
Retail sales registered a stable increase last month, posting its best rise since last November. Upbeat sentiment over consumer spending boosted retail sales and is expected to continue to benefit retailers in the coming months. Stable job growth, better consumer confidence and a positive impact of tax cuts are expected to boost consumer spending and…
A strong breakout is brewing in commodities. There is even more: commodities are inches away from a new and strong bull market to start in 2018. This is why, and what investors should watch. Commodities may be strong right now, they were extremely weak last summer when we wrote Commodities Facing Huge Breakdown Risk. This is a…
The consolidated economic report from the 12 Federal Reserve Districts (Beige Book) stated: “Economic activity continued to expand at a modest to moderate pace across the 12 Federal Reserve Districts in March and early April.“. The previous report stated, “economic activity expanded at a modest to moderate pace across the 12 Federal Reserve Districts in…
Let’s talk earnings for a bit. Specifically, how the 2017 tax cut affected S&P 500 earnings. We all know the story. America’s corporate tax rate was uncompetitive and created distortions in the economy that prevented companies from investing in the U.S. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was designed to level the playing…
