The housing market is a mess. There’s still much too much inventory, too many homeowners are underwater, prices have yet to hit bottom, and, like the first picture below shows, while foreclosures and delinquencies appear to have peaked, they’re still way high. I’d also say this is the most important factor holding back economic growth. … Read more
Archive for the ‘New Posts’ Category
A Brief Note on Slower Growth
Someone asked me to comment on the recent reports that suggest the already not-fast-enough growth rate of the economy may be slowing. I’ve got two words for you: excess capacity. Look at the figures in that post, and I’ve got more coming in a forthcoming study I hope to get out soon for the CBPP…. Read more
Our Infrastructure Deficit: This Time, It’s Personal
For the second day in a row, there is no power in the building which houses my employer, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (the CBPP website is still up, though). Apparently, a number of buildings in that part of town are out. PEPCO, our local utility, says we’ll be back on at noon… Read more
Interesting “Coulds” Coming In
Some deep thinkers have been coming up with some potentially useful “coulds” based on this recent post. It’s a list worth keeping up and expanding on, at least until the unemployment rates hits…oh, I don’t know…5%. Again, let me stress that it’s once again walk-and-chew-gum time. It’s just as important to keep the “shoulds” going,… Read more
Note to Congress: Stop Screwing Around and Raise the Debt Ceiling
Yesterday, the House voted for a clean debt limit increase. If you’re one of those people worrying about the fragility of the economic recovery, or one of the many more actually struggling with it, this might have sounded promising to you. In fact, a clean increase is the way to go. Yes, we need… Read more