Robert Brusca
Robert Brusca
decline demand prices slack unless
Prices don't decline like this unless you've got a lot of slack demand conditions.
consumer factors growth income line overall picks special spending tells trend unless
So while some special factors may be boosting spending, the overall trend of spending is well out of line with income growth. This tells us that this spending trend is unsustainable unless consumer income growth picks up sharply.
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.
average breathe critical earnings easily fed federal job nice rate reserve
We've still got a lot of job growth, but it's not pressuring the unemployment rate, ... That's a critical thing for the Fed -- between the unemployment rate and the nice average hourly earnings rate figure, which was up only a penny, I think the Federal Reserve will breathe pretty easily with this report.
economy problems strong
I still have my problems with the economy and how strong it's doing,
affected economy economy-and-economics gives magnitude
It doesn't tell you anything about the economy at this point. It just gives you some idea of the magnitude of the displacement in the affected area.
begun behind economy economy-and-economics growth job pushed signs slow strong surface
I think some of the job growth has been pushed forward. Behind the surface of these very strong reports, there are signs the economy has begun to slow down.
bear building economy fruit head improvement job less market pointing report signals simply
Some of the signals pointing to job market improvement simply did not bear fruit this month. The report makes the economy look even less like it is building a head of steam.