Two things in life are certain: death and taxes. So goes the saying. And yet despite that, the idea of the necessity of taxation is largely undisputed, “consent” to its use is, historically seen, new. How did it come about that tax evasion, first an act of protection against the abuse of government, is now […]

In January 2016, everything came to a head. The oil price crash (2nd time), currency chaos, global turmoil, and even a second stock market liquidation were all being absorbed by the global economy. The disruptions were far worse overseas, thus the global part of global turmoil, but the US economy, too, was showing clear signs […]

October retail sales rose 0.2% following a revised 1.9% gain in September, up from 1.6%. Autos continued to surge up 0.7% from September’s 4.6% rise. Excluding autos, sales rose only 0.1% Retail Sales Changes by Type of Business Charts from Census Department, highlights and callouts mine. Hurricane effects have distorted both month-over-month and year-over-year comparisons. Hurricane […]

US equity markets have rebounded aggressively off their opening plunge on the heels of a sudden magical bid… Can you guess where from… Now that Europe is closed – what happens next?

In an African folk tale, a prince can only be coronated when he can sense the faintest noises of the jungle that even most alert predators tend to skip. The world of investing is similar. Surrounded by commotion and distractions, this economic jungle can lead even the most experienced predators to miss the whispering winds […]