Investing
Investing
Is U.S. Housing Investment Under Threat of an Impending Slowdown?
It's no secret 2016 started off in precarious fashion as several U.S. stock indices tumbled on news of China’s slowing economy, weakening international crude oil prices, and quietly transmitted rumors of a looming recession. Upon these revelations and other market performance indicators, the FOMC announced last week “to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at ¼ to ½ percent” in accordance with “its objective of maximum employment...
Investing
U.S. Trade Imbalance Trending Behavior
Since the early 1990’s the United States has and continues to suffer trade imbalances, or trade deficits, of substantial and growing proportions with several foreign nations. For those unfamiliar with the term balance of trade (BOT), it is simply the difference between a country’s imports versus its exports. For nearly 2.5 decades U.S. leadership has apparently permitted (to the extent supported) this economic disparity to manifest into an extremely lopsided...
Investing
Is the U.S. Economy Heading for Recession in 2016?
According to multiple news sources America is starting the New Year in precarious fashion as several credible economic analysts predict recession in 2016. Evidence of this anxiety is easily demonstrated by the recent and substantial drop in various stock market indices. As of today NASDAQ retracted to its approximate valuation as measured this time one year ago. Fears the global marketplace is facing an impeding hard contraction are growing. In...
Investing
Where is the U.S. Economy Heading in 2016 and is Your Job Safe?
U.S. economic prosperity in 2015 is perhaps best described as confusing given stock market volatility, the Fed’s struggle to normalize monetary policy, the lowest labor force participation rate in nearly four decades, and a national debt quickly approaching $19 trillion relative to an unusually robust domestic housing market, a greatly improved national U-3 level unemployment rate, and an encouraging and fairly stable consumer price index (CPI). So what gives? Why...
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Fed Raises Rates: Impact on Student Loan Debt Varies
On December 16, 2015, the FOMC took action “to raise the target range for the federal funds rate to ¼ to ½ percent." Debate of assumed outcomes and potential unintended consequences has been the subject of concern for some time with speculation running the gauntlet of possibilities. The rampant rumors surrounding the student loan market is perhaps due to the fact that Federal loans account for a “93%” stake in...
Investing
Economy Class Benefits from United’s Freebie Snacks
Apparently senior leadership at United Airlines recognizes this time of year to rejoice and express appreciation for those you care about by once again dishing out free snacks to economy fliers. Wow! After an approximate 7-year hiatus dating back to sometime in 2008, in which United management then decided to nix serving the freebie miniature-sized snack packs to quell the peasants squished together like chickens in an overcrowded henhouse sitting...
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