Archive for Between the Lines
Where $3.9 Trillion In FY2016 Federal Spending Really Went
Gary D. Halbert Between the Lines It is so very tempting to devote this entire space to this week’s historic presidential election, and goodness knows I could. Yet the only thing that mattered to me in this election was that Hillary Clinton lost. She did and did so very badly….
US Manufacturing & Factories Are Not Dead, Just Different
Gary D. Halbert Between the Lines Before we get into today’s topic, here’s a quick update on this morning’s third and final estimate of 2Q GDP. The Commerce Department reported that 2Q GDP rose 1.4% (annual rate), up slightly from the August estimate of 1.1%. This was slightly better than…
The Fed, The Feud And The Fraud
Gary D. Halbert Between the Lines To almost no one’s surprise, Janet Yellen & Company voted to keep the Fed Funds rate range unchanged at 0.25%-0.50% at the latest policy committee meeting that ended yesterday. The policy statement released after the meeting was quite positive regarding improvements in the economy,…
The US Economy Is Nowhere Near “Full Employment”
Gary D. Halbert Between the Lines The official unemployment rate in the US has now been below 5% for four consecutive months. I mentioned in my E-Letter on Tuesday that some economists and members of the Fed believe the economy is approaching what is referred to as “full employment,” which…
Fed Continues to Overstate the Growth of the Economy – Why?
Gary D. Halbert Between the Lines Two prominent Fed officials gave major speeches over the last week, and both suggested that the US economy will surge in the second half of this year. Both indicated that this newfound growth in the previously moribund economy means the Fed will raise interest…
Over-Regulation Now Makes America $4 Trillion Poorer
Gary D. Halbert Between the Lines I have focused on over-regulation in America for the last couple of months because it is such a crippling impediment to the US economy, and because it is such a critical issue in the upcoming presidential election. The candidates have starkly different views on…