Archive for July 2015

The Friday File: Americans will spend $6.6 billion on food and retail purchases celebrating July 4th, up 6% from 2014. 64% of Americans will attend a cookout/barbecue and probably eat at least one of the 150 million hot dogs sold this weekend, 43% will enjoy the $675 million spent on fireworks, 12% will attend a…

Today’s labor numbers were OK. First-time claims for unemployment remain very low at 281,000, employment growth is solid averaging 208,000/month YTD, and unemployment is just 5.3% with full employment less than a year away. But, wage growth remains weak averaging just 2% over the past year and the labor force participation rate continues its meandering…

The unfolding Greek tragedy won’t directly affect the US as US banks hold almost no Greek debt, but may impact us indirectly. If things get volatile in Europe, the ECB will increase bond purchases, putting downward pressure on interest rates and investors will flock to safe-haven US bonds. This would increase the value of the…