Jobs

California’s High-Speed Rail To Nowhere

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on California’s High-Speed Rail To Nowhere

For medium distances, high-speed rail is faster than flying. It’s hassle-free and comfortable. And it benefits the economy. But not the way California is doing it. The hullabaloo about funding the skyrocketing costs of linking LA and the Bay Area ignores a huge economic problem: once again, taxpayers are asked to create jobs overseas. Contenders: Germany, Japan, France, and China.

The Trade Debacle With China

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on The Trade Debacle With China

The US trade deficit with China will hit a record $300 billion for the year, a big hit to the economy. It’s politically convenient to blame China, particularly its yuan policy. But the driver is a broad strategy by US corporations to shift an increasing range of economic activities to China. And now a trade war has broken out. Politicians, have a word with your corporate sponsors!

The Shriveling Middle Class In California

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on The Shriveling Middle Class In California

An ominous trend picks up speed: the middle class is shriveling. In 1980, 60% of Californians lived in middle-income families. By 2010, only 47.9% did, according to a study by the Public Policy Institute of California. Main culprits: declining incomes and disappearing jobs. And where the heck is the recovery?

The Inexplicable American Consumer Strikes Again

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on The Inexplicable American Consumer Strikes Again

Consumer confidence indices have collapsed to levels not seen in years or even decades. Yet the toughest creature out there that no one has yet been able to beat down struck again. Consumer spending increased at an annual rate of 2.4% during the third quarter, though the mood has become outright morose since.

The Brutal Trade Deficit

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on The Brutal Trade Deficit

At $46 billion in August and a hair-raising $376 billion year to date, the trade deficit is a powerful descriptor of what’s wrong with the U.S. economy. By year end, it will amount to half a trillion. Economic activity gone overseas. The cause: an ancient and valid business principle that is now harming the overall economy.

Snapshot Of Our Calamity Economy

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Snapshot Of Our Calamity Economy

The economy is going back to hell, but stock markets are surging. Nothing new. It always ends in tears. But this time, the Fed’s money-printing strategy will make things only worse. Today’s horrid numbers show us why.

Obama: Gut Social Security Now, Don’t Wait Till The Election

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Obama: Gut Social Security Now, Don’t Wait Till The Election

Incredible that a Democrat would propose that our Social Security system should be gutted starting immediately to get an up-tick in GDP just before the election. But President Obama’s proposal to cut payroll taxes in half will do just that.

Remember him? Went after Social Security too.

Let’s Just Raid Social Security

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Let’s Just Raid Social Security

Out of one side of its mouth, our political system talks about reforming Social Security to preserve it for a few more years, and out of the other side of its mouth, it proposes to expedite its demise. Where’s the duct tape?

In the Bowels the Jobs Report: 15.4 Million Missing Jobs

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on In the Bowels the Jobs Report: 15.4 Million Missing Jobs

The long-term problem in the horrendous jobs report is the strangely inconspicuous “Employment-Population Ratio” that has been nosediving for over a decade. It’s the definition of a comatose economy.

Hatchet Jobs

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Hatchet Jobs

The litany of layoffs among the largest banks continues. And it’s ugly. After announcements and rumors from Wall Street, the first European banks have come out to air their dirty laundry. And now, per the Financial Times, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is adding 2,000 layoffs to the list. 63,000 by eight European banks so far. Something big is afoot.