Just Keeps Getting Worse: Services Trade Surplus, the American Dream Not-Come-True, Falls to 9-Year Low, Total Trade Deficit Explodes to Worst Ever by Wolf Richter • May 4, 2021 • 261 Comments The promise of high-value services exports to rationalize globalization turned out to be fake.
Freight Expenses Spike the Most on Record by Wolf Richter • Apr 19, 2021 • 95 Comments But shipment volume, though strong, is not at record levels.
The Power of Stimmies after Decades of Rampant Offshoring: Trade Deficit Hits Worst Ever, Duh by Wolf Richter • Apr 7, 2021 • 251 Comments Imports of goods soared, while the already small services surplus plunged to nine-year low.
Blocked Suez Canal Adding to Container Shortages, Supply Chain Snarls, Component Shortages for Manufacturers by Wolf Richter • Mar 25, 2021 • 182 Comments Exactly at the worst possible time. Ripple effects to be felt for months.
Momentous Change in US Natural Gas with Global Impact as Exports Soar to Huge Record Despite Collapse in the Spring by Wolf Richter • Mar 15, 2021 • 86 Comments Biggest buyers: Mexico, South Korea, Japan, China, Spain, UK. Price spike in February, when Texas froze up, unwound. Asian LNG price spike in January is unwinding.
Long Way to “Normalcy”: When Will Americans Return to Flying for Vacation and Business? by Wolf Richter • Mar 12, 2021 • 147 Comments Airlines, meanwhile, face pent-up demand of the wrong kind.
Consumers Paid Down Credit Cards Again! By Most Ever. But Cash-Out Refis Spiked to Highest since 2005/6 Peaks. What Gives? by Wolf Richter • Mar 5, 2021 • 172 Comments They’re not the same consumers.
More Shifts in the Year of the Plague: Driving Plunged even as Mass Transit Ridership Collapsed by Wolf Richter • Feb 25, 2021 • 87 Comments “L-shaped recovery” for mass transit. Per person, vehicle miles were already in long-term decline since 2003. Than came 2020.
The Growing Pains of Brexit, 50 Days In by Nick Corbishley • Feb 23, 2021 • 121 Comments The crucial services exports, manufacturing exports and imports, the arts & entertainment industry, fishing industry… it’s a mess.
Shipping Costs, Trucking Rates Soar Despite Demand Below Prior Years. Now Add Diesel Price Surge to the Mix by Wolf Richter • Feb 19, 2021 • 75 Comments Inflation worming through various levels of the economy despite suboptimal demand.