Common Cents Blog
Some years ago, a wise person told me the true definition of an economic downturn is: “having to go without stuff your grandparents wouldn’t have dreamed of having in the first place.” I am not sure…
When compared to the relative ease of last year, 2022 has been akin to what an old boss of mine might have called “dragging a mule through the mud.” The crazy thing about that sentence isn’t…
This morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for March 2022. This is the most commonly used inflation gauge in the United States, and the investment markets were anxiously awaiting…
Next week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will release the Consumer Price Index (CPI), colloquially known as inflation, for March 2022. The “Street” is anticipating a reading of 1.2% for the month, which would take…
If you follow the financial news, you might have recently read something about a “yield curve inversion,” and what that might mean for the economy. This is when shorter-term interest rates are higher than longer-term ones,…
This past Wednesday night, I did a little grocery shopping. While I didn’t need much, I walked down every single aisle to kill time while the pharmacy filled my prescription. Not surprisingly, there were a number…
Yesterday, I had an early morning TV interview with the Fox affiliate here in town. Not surprisingly, the topic was this week’s rate hike, and the impact it will ultimately have on the US consumer and…
Obviously, the ongoing morass in eastern Europe continues to dominate global headlines. That and the recent spike in crude oil prices, especially after the US Administration (and other countries) announced a ban on Russian crude. The…
I will admit it: the last several days have been especially trying, as a sharp spike in oil, and other commodity, prices has caused global equity investors to reach for the door. Ordinarily, the bond market…
Despite a spate of decent, and even great, domestic economic news this week, it is hard to escape the morass in eastern Europe. Surely, the military brass in the Kremlin didn’t draw it up like this?…