1. In 2011, U.S. manufacturing companies increased employment by 237,000 positions, which was the largest annual increase in manufacturing jobs since a 302,000 gain in 1997. 2. Of the 237,000 new jobs added to manufacturing payrolls last year, 44,300 jobs, … read more >

Greg Mankiw is understandably left scratching his head over this: “Consider these two policies: A. An employer is required to provide its employees health insurance that covers birth control. B. An employer is required to provide its employees health insurance.  The health insurance … read more >

The chart above (click to enlarge) is an update of  the chart from this CD post from about a year ago, showing medical school acceptance rates for Asians, whites, Hispanics and blacks based on data from the Association of American … read more >

“The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry rose 3.9 percent in December from November, the largest monthly rise in 17 years, which brought the level of freight shipments to an all-time high, according to the U.S. Department … read more >

Despite an 11.1% jobless rate in December that was the highest in the country except for Nevada’s 12.6% rate, the LA Times is reporting that California’s exports surged to a new record high of $159.35 billion in 2011.  That was … read more >