Chicago Fed National Activity Indicator is just out. Led by improvements in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) increased to +0.53 in July from –0.01 in June. Three of the four broad categories of indicators used to construct the index made positive contributions in July, and three categories improved from June. The … Read More

As I advised Peoplenomics readers Saturday, the direction of writing around here has gone wandering off on its own.  Tied to the keyboard, I’m forced to follow but the destination is becoming clear. Let me back up a ways and tell you the story from the top. Remember the Lathe Project? A week or two back … Read More

Between events in the shop this week, and Biden pulling troops before others, we see a vision of the future that looks horrific.  This will come out on Urban in pieces, but this morning for subscribers a high level overview of what’s likely to come from America’s simmering calamities. Along with the ChartPack which is … Read More

Since there isn’t much in the way of hardcore economic news today, a really short column is in order. Markets: Short-term Glum Things will suck again, at least at the open.  At least so say the futures.  The market high in our Aggregate came on Monday, the 16th. So we will have to fiddle our … Read More

We might have made a little lunch money this week.  The reason is the market declines from Friday the 13th have been amazing. I mean besides Damning pic of a weak leader: Devine (nypost.com). The real driver is taper talk at the Fed.  Seems the party-punch spikers have figured out that sobriety has to come along some … Read More

My book Packing to Die: Suitcase Between Your Ears is now available on Amazon for Kindle.  Feel free to buy several thousand copies. In a few days, the paperback version should be ready, as well.  Amazon’s had a “hitch in their print-along” this week. Not my error! I hear a number of other authors have … Read More

Going short the market near the close Monday didn’t take a genius. The speech in the movie Patton delivered brilliantly by George C. Scott sums up the feelings around here: “Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. That’s why Americans have never lost and will never … Read More

But do notice that after touting “speak to the National at 3:45 PM” the Slow Joe ran the clock out on the stock market.  Which closes at 4:00 PM. Ure – appalled by such transparent scamming – might have gone short. If Biden had good news maybe his time-keeping would be more accurate. More in … Read More

Failure is an orphan, after all.  Says so right on its birth certificate. Success, of course is on the other side:  Always at least two smiling parents.  Oftentimes, though, half a dozen – even more. I would like to be upbeat, but reality stomped out that mood within 3-minutes of touching the keys.  This is scapegoat … Read More

Housekeeping and Shortwave Radio Note first: That killer quake in Haiti this weekend, 7.2 and at least a couple of dozen dead, resulted in the American Radio Relay League sending out an advisory to ham radio operators to give some elbow room to the emergency nets: “IARU, Region 2 has requested that the following frequencies be … Read More

SitRep and the Charts today since the week was consumed with “book work.” My latest book should be out Monday or Tuesday on Amazon.  Both as a $4.99 Kindle ebook and as a paperback, as well. This brings another Peoplenomics book into focus.  I have continued to collect data for additions to “The 100-Year Toaster:  … Read More

Import prices are going which way, do you think? “Come on you dog-faced pony soldier…”  Get this one right and the Slow Joe economics plan might actually make sense.  No?  Not enough drugs in the world to straighten that mess out?   OK, the answer is: “Prices for U.S. imports increased 0.3 percent in July, after … Read More

Two data points to consider as we sneak up on the weekend. The usual unemployment filings – improved: Highlights are the non-seasonally adjusted (no BS actual) numbers. Screaming And the Producer Prices: Bad:  Over 12% Annualized Rate: “The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 1.0 percent in July, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of … Read More