Month: August 2015

August 11, 2015 0

Productivity Remains Weak; Spotlight on Retail Store and Trucking; Are Productivity Measurements Accurate?

By News Desk

MarketWatch reports Productivity Dry Spell Looks Worse in Latest Report The dry spell of productivity in this economic expansion is even worse than previously thought, according to new data released Tuesday. The average annual rate of productivity growth from 2007 to 2014 was revised down to 1.3% per year from the prior estimate of 1.4%, the Labor Department said Tuesday. This is well below the long-term rate of 2.2% per year from 1947 to 2014

August 11, 2015 0

Irrelevance

By News Desk

Tweet RWE (Rheinisch-Westfälischen Elektrizitätswerk) is one of the largest electrical power companies in biggest soft coal (aka dirt or lignite) mining operations in the world.  It is also home base for Fritz Varenholt , one of Germany’s most active solar fans (nonono, not wind energy, he don’t like that or solar power either, but the sun, the sun, not greenhouse gases are the thing for Fritz).  Anyhow RWE is in big trouble because of the Energiewende, folks are not paying as much for what they make because they are using less of it and RWE is deep into coal and gas power generators. Germany and operators of one of the largest lignite (brown coal, aka dirt) mines in the world The Sueddeutsche brings news of a major reorganization typical of a failing concern that had overexpanded in the fat times.  Many of the 100 formerly more or less independently operating subsidiaries, with their own boards, are being hovered up into 32 and what is left will be directly controlled by the mothership. The command module will, of course, expand.  The large pink elephant of a headquarters building has been sold off, from which bunnies gather that they are turning stuff into cash as fast as they can.

August 10, 2015 0

China’s Exports Plunge 8% in July; Spotlight on US Trade Imbalance With China

By News Desk

Following Saturday’s report Chinese Exports Slump Over Eight Percent , analysts expect more China stimulus. Chinese exports tumbled 8.3 percent in July, their biggest drop in four months and far worse than expected, reinforcing expectations that Beijing will be forced to roll out more stimulus to support the world’s second-largest economy. Imports also fell heavily from a year earlier, in line with market forecasts but suggesting domestic demand might be too feeble to offset the weaker global demand for China’s exports

August 9, 2015 0

Buchanan: Obama vs. Bibi

By News Desk

Buchanan continues to hit them out of the park. Here is his latest: Obama v. Bibi — Fight to the Finish In his desperation to sink the Iran nuclear deal, Bibi Netanyahu is taking a hellish gamble

August 9, 2015 0

Plagues of Locusts Invade Russia; Putin’s Inane Food Contraband Destruction Policy; Law of Asset Destruction

By News Desk

Plagues of Locusts Invade Russia; Putin’s Inane Food Contraband Destruction Policy; Law of Asset Destruction Putin’s Inane Food Contraband Destruction Policy In an action as economically stupid as president Roosevelt destroying US farm produce during the Great Depression, Russia Incinerates Contraband Food . One year into its embargo on western food products, Russia has launched a controversial campaign to destroy all contraband meat, dairy and produce, using on-the-spot incinerators, dump trucks, rollers and meat grinders.