Archive of posts filed under the Economy category.

Credit-Card Debt Falls in the U.S. but Rises in Brazil and China

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Credit-card debt in the U.S. recorded the twenty-fourth straight monthly decline in August according to the Federal Reserve. Revolving credit-card debt fell $5.0 billion 0r 7.2% in August. As US consumers continue the process of balance-sheet de-leveraging, the outstanding credit-debt will decline further. However while the outstanding credit-card debt is declining in the U.S, it …

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Are American Companies Facing A Labor Shortage?

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The official unemployment rate in August stood at 9.6% with the total number of unemployed persons at 14.9 million. The real unemployment rate U6 is much higher. With so many millions of people unemployed one would think that American firms would not have a problem recruiting workers for any open position. However that does not …

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European Banking Crises and Associated Effects Since 1800

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Financial crises can occur in anywhere. Some in the developed world have long had the view that financial crises only in less economically developed countries. The US-made credit crisis, Euro currency crisis, Greek debt crisis and others in the past few years have painfully shown that they are wrong. History shows that the developed world …

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Historical Monthly S&P 500 Volatility Chart

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In a recent article I wrote that the average stock holding period in the NYSE fell to around 7 months in 2007. In addition to this very low holding period, investors today must endure tremendous volatility in the markets. The chart below shows the S&P 500 volatility has changed over the past 33+ years: Click …

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As Households’ Income Fall More Americans Depend on Government Benefits

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Despite the rise and fall of the hi-tech industry in the 90s, the incredible boom and the subsequent bust of the housing market, the vast majority of Americans are actually worse now than before. Two recent articles in The Wall Street Journal confirms this theory. From an article titled “Obstacle to Deficit Cutting: A Nation …

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