Richard Barrington

Think manufacturing jobs are the key to restoring better incomes? Guess again. Year-over-year, weekly wages generally have risen by 3.0 percent, while manufacturing wages have risen by just 1.9 percent.

Does anyone know what is going on with the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site? Trying to access any of their databases yields a message that the site is not secure - and I've tried this via multiple browsers on multiple devices.

Interest rates may not seem especially high, but their impact is magnified by the amount of debt now outstanding. Between credit cards, car loans, and mortgages, Americans are now paying nearly $85 billion a year more interest than they did the last time rates were this high.

Interesting. Since the Fed started raising rates, the average credit card rate is up 1.52%. The average savings account rate? Just 0.01%. Nice to see the banks are doing well. Consumers, not so much.... https://t.co/9hGau9wfSz

Today's weak job report is a reminder that businesses hate uncertainty. Whatever you think of protectionism and immigration restrictions, it's no surprise that the disruptive nature of how these policies have been rolled out puts a damper on hiring.

The standard line is that when the Fed raises rates it hurts borrowers while helping savers, but this has been only half true since the Fed started raising rates in 12/2015. Credit card rates are up 129 basis points, while savings account rates are up 1 basis point in that time.

New tariffs = higher inflation Potential foreign trade retaliation = slower growth Slower growth + higher inflation = stagflation Stagflation was a big hit in the 1970s, but as with disco, there's no good reason for bringing it back.

I'm guessing only a few people failed to see this surge in inflation coming. Unfortunately, those few people are on the FOMC....

Economic growth for the 4th quarter 2017 rates a resounding “meh.” Growth was positive, but at a slower pace than in the third quarter. The current economy is the person your mother wants to fix you up with, on the grounds that the person "wouldn't be the worst you've dated...."

While CPI gained only 2.1%in 2017, 1.7% of that happened in the 2nd half of the year – the largest semi-annual inflation gain since the 1st half of 2011. The notion that inflation is gathering steam is reinforced by the fact that oil prices rose by 31% in the 2nd half of 2017.

2017 ended with a whimper for job growth, making it the weakest year since 2010. Given the transition of Fed leadership, this points to a "go slow" approach to further rate increases.

Trendy though it is for companies to do away with annual employee reviews, it is a missed opportunity for sharp employees. https://t.co/qH842w9czR #45-minute fortune

Crypto currencies are real in the sense that demand for money laundering and tax evasion are very real. https://t.co/VQMB50iRls

Is the Fed trying to tell us the job market is worse than it appears? https://t.co/b08Mitp7zr

BLS says Oct's strong job growth was a bounceback from temporary hurricane disruptions; if so, the 2-month average is still pretty anemic.

With yields still low, investors are increasingly tempted to roll the dice a bit. Be sure to look before you leap: https://t.co/ZOlOJJCFIl

Even safety-first investors can make choices that make a difference. Some basic tips: https://t.co/Hqr2XCLK6F