06 | November | 2012

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

The US economy is now producing 2.2% more output than before the recession, but with 3.84 million fewer workers

Mark J. Perry | November 6, 2012, 10:14 pm

The chart above is an updated version of one that I’ve featured several times before on CD, and helps to graphically capture several important trends in the U.S. economy over the last ten years: real GDP and civilian employment. It … read more >

Image Credit: DonkeyHotey (Flickr) (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Politics and Public Opinion, Elections

Election night live–Update: Obama wins

Henrik Temp | November 6, 2012, 7:59 pm

President Obama has been reelected. Signing off for the night, folks. President Obama has secured enough electoral votes to win reelection. He also looks likely to take Florida and quite possibly Virginia as well. Tomorrow the post-election reflections begin! Election … read more >

Carpe Diem

CoreLogic Home Price Index posts a 5% gain in September, the largest annual increase in home prices since July 2006

Mark J. Perry | November 6, 2012, 6:21 pm

CoreLogic today released its September Home Price Index (HPI) report, here are some highlights: 1. Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased on a year-over-year basis by 5% in September (see chart above). This change represents the biggest increase since … read more >

Carpe Diem

Energy chart of the day: US oil output during last week of October was highest weekly production since January 1995

Mark J. Perry | November 6, 2012, 5:31 pm

The Department of Energy reported last week (data here) that the U.S. produced 6.67 million barrels of crude oil per day during the week ending October 26, which is the highest weekly output of oil in the U.S. since the … read more >

Carpe Diem

Markets in everything: Trading sex for gas

Mark J. Perry | November 6, 2012, 4:16 pm

According to CBS News, People Trading Gas For Sex On Craigslist.

Pethokoukis

Obama didn’t end the Great Recession that Bush didn’t cause

James Pethokoukis | November 6, 2012, 3:07 pm

If you think George W. Bush’s economic policies caused the Great Recession and Barack Obama’s ended it, then your Election Day decision is likely an easy one. But placing politics aside, I don’t think the economic evidence supports that thesis. … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Asia

Neil Heywood, 007?

Michael Mazza | November 6, 2012, 12:48 pm

In a big story sure to be overshadowed by today’s elections, the Wall Street Journal reports that Neil Heywood—the Briton that had been close to former CCP power-broker Bo Xilai and murdered by Bo’s wife, Gu Kailai—had ties to MI6, … read more >

Carpe Diem

Trulia’s October asking home price index increased 2.9% year-over-year, the largest annual increase to date

Mark J. Perry | November 6, 2012, 12:10 pm

Online real estate listing company Trulia released its monthly report yesterday on asking prices for homes listed for sale in October (a leading indicator of future home sales prices), with the following highlights: “In October, asking prices rose 0.7% month-over-month, … read more >

Carpe Diem

Markets and methods in everything: Baseball’s magic mud, separating an egg yolk, amazing roadside care machine

Mark J. Perry | November 6, 2012, 11:42 am

HT: William Heasley

The Real Clear Politics electoral map as of 11 AM 11/6/12.

Politics and Public Opinion, Elections

Final polling roundup: What 4 national pollsters are saying on Election Day

Henrik Temp | November 6, 2012, 11:16 am

The final national polls released before election day point to a squeaker of an election. Here’s a rundown of 4 big pollsters and some of their key findings. read more >

The Uses of Scandal
One of the greatest uses of scandal is to vividly demonstrate what new laws are needed and to create the political conditions to get them enacted. […]
Lean In… to Government?
Sheryl Sandberg's runaway best-selling book Lean In has managed to offend both the Left and the Right. Sandberg touts female hard-headedness, yet also calls for an elaborate government- and employer-supplied support system for women. […]
Are American Voters Racist?
Racial prejudice plays a very small role in American politics, but a highly disciplined sense of self-interest on the part of one group may play a very large role in the way the federal government functions. […]
The Perpetual Passion for Paper
Paper is becoming less important in some respects, but its strengths — prestige, utility, permanence, and security — are more essential than ever. […]