Robert Brusca
Robert Brusca
aware energy people prices
People are aware of what energy prices are doing to their pocketbooks, and their company,
across areas broad concerned core declines fed growth inflation percent prices reason spectrum
Inflation decelerated across a broad spectrum of core CPI areas -- about 40 percent of prices in the core showed declines in their year-over-year growth rate. That's a big proportion. The Fed is concerned and has a reason to be concerned.
consumer control prices
consumer prices are really going to be under control, as well.
compensate energy eventually fact itself month period prices work works
Eventually you have other prices going down to compensate for the fact that energy went up. But that doesn't work itself out in a month or two; it works out over a period of time.
bigger deficit forecast foreign growth lower oil prices reasons relatively seems trade weak
The trade deficit seems to only get bigger and never recede. The reasons are clear, oil prices are up, foreign growth is still relatively weak and US growth is strong. There is no reason to forecast a lower deficit.
decline demand prices slack unless
Prices don't decline like this unless you've got a lot of slack demand conditions.
chasing few inflation money oil prices
Oil prices going up is not inflationary. Inflation is too much money chasing too few goods.
decline demand economy economy-and-economics prices shows slack unless weak
These are big declines. It shows you how weak the economy is. Prices don't decline like this unless you've got slack demand conditions.
economy-and-economics happening mixed results
We're getting sort-of mixed results with what is happening in the economy.
categories clearly consumers divided good lots main money optimism results shown spending
We're getting some very good spending going into the first quarter. It's interesting that while there is spending optimism, consumers are still clearly divided into two main categories -- those with lots of money and those that are hurting. That's why these monthly results have shown so much irregularity.
begin creates creep demand employees evidence fed gains generally inflation quite realize scenario starting wage worker
Worker productivity generally creates a scenario where employees realize they can begin to demand more for what they do. While the year-over-year productivity gains are still quite good, there is some evidence that wage inflation may be starting to creep in. The Fed won't like this.
cuts job seeing stay
We're still seeing job cuts in manufacturing, and it's going to stay that way for some time.
markets radar reason recession stock talk
There is a reason for stock markets to be worried. But I don't think we need to talk about recession yet -- it's not on the radar screen.
aggressive banks curtail economic extent feeds less risk taking
The extent to which it feeds back to you and me is that banks become less aggressive about taking risk ... and this could curtail economic activity.