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November 30, 2005

Energy imports, nontradables, and net exports

The messages from the 05q3 Preliminary GDP release.

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Posted by Menzie Chinn at 08:15 PM permalink | Comments (11)

Facing the latest economic data

Here are a few thoughts about some of the economic news that's been coming in over the last few weeks.

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Posted by James Hamilton at 05:54 AM permalink | Comments (15)

November 29, 2005

What are prospects for Federal debt/GDP?

Did recent surge in tax revenues signal a meaningful improvement in fiscal prospects?

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Posted by Menzie Chinn at 06:10 PM permalink | Comments (6)

November 28, 2005

Blind leading the blind

Score another one for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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Posted by James Hamilton at 02:29 PM permalink | Comments (41)

November 27, 2005

Inverted yield curve edges closer

If you haven't been worrying about the possibility of an inverted yield curve, now might be a good time to start.

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Posted by James Hamilton at 02:17 PM permalink | Comments (17)

November 21, 2005

Windfall profits tax

Here's a summary of some of the recent discussion about the proposal of a tax on the windfall profits of oil producers.

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Posted by James Hamilton at 03:05 PM permalink | Comments (11)

November 20, 2005

Hedge fund risk

Psst-- want to earn a 41% annual return over a decade? Then read on.

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Posted by James Hamilton at 02:44 PM permalink | Comments (30)

November 18, 2005

Does manufacturing matter?

Tradables and nontradables in the current account adjustment process.

by Menzie Chinn

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Posted by Menzie Chinn at 08:50 AM permalink | Comments (33)

November 17, 2005

Inflation under control

Unlike September's troubling inflation statistics, yesterday's release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the October consumer price index is more reassuring.

Continue reading "Inflation under control"

Posted by James Hamilton at 03:11 PM permalink | Comments (14)

November 16, 2005

Oil grilling

Sometimes I like to base exam questions for my students on recent news. Here's an exam question to see how thoroughly students understand the economic issues associated with today's allegations about oil companies and the Cheney energy task force.

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Posted by James Hamilton at 09:41 PM permalink | Comments (35)

November 15, 2005

Facing the 900-pound gorilla

Sooner or later we have to do something about Medicare. Why not sooner?

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Posted by James Hamilton at 03:14 PM permalink | Comments (34)

November 14, 2005

Peak Oil at the American Enterprise Institute

A week ago I participated in a discussion at the American Enterprise Institute on peak oil. A video of the event can be downloaded from E&ETV and a transcript is available from Peak Oil News.

Posted by James Hamilton at 12:20 PM permalink | Comments (22)

November 13, 2005

Does it matter whether Bernanke is a Republican?

Mr. Dooley told us that the Supreme Court watches the election returns. So also must the Chair of the Federal Reserve.

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Posted by James Hamilton at 11:36 AM permalink | Comments (7)

November 12, 2005

Menzie Chinn joins Econbrowser

I'm pleased to report that Menzie Chinn has agreed to sign on as a regular contributor to Econbrowser, so that the official staff of our little enterprise has now doubled. Those who have followed his outstanding earlier contributions as a guest blogger should be as happy as I am with this development.

Posted by James Hamilton at 02:55 PM permalink | Comments (4)

November 11, 2005

Latest trade figures

Is trade deficit stabilization at hand?

by: Menzie Chinn

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Posted by Menzie Chinn at 06:38 AM permalink | Comments (26)

November 10, 2005

Senate finds the facts about Big Oil

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources grilled oil company executives yesterday about their role in recent oil price increases. For some reason I did not find any coverage in the mainstream media of this very interesting exchange between the senators and oil tycoon Jed Clampett.

Continue reading "Senate finds the facts about Big Oil"

Posted by James Hamilton at 08:38 AM permalink | Comments (24)

November 07, 2005

Gasoline prices down

Gas prices have dropped a lot, and further declines are in sight. What's that mean for fuel demand and the overall economy?

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Posted by James Hamilton at 04:36 PM permalink | Comments (22)

November 06, 2005

Latest employment statistics: the clear thing is that it's not at all clear

Last week's GDP statistics and this week's productivity data gave us something to cheer about. Friday's employment figures do not.

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Posted by James Hamilton at 12:15 PM permalink | Comments (8)

November 02, 2005

Autos continue to tank

The worst October for U.S. auto sales in the last 13 years, it was.

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Posted by James Hamilton at 07:21 PM permalink | Comments (50)

How anomalous is U.S. current account behavior?

Is there statistical evidence for the "global savings glut"?


by Guest Blogger: Menzie Chinn

Continue reading "How anomalous is U.S. current account behavior?"

Posted by Menzie Chinn at 08:38 AM permalink | Comments (6)