Economy

The real estate market had started to stabilize on signs that foreclosure inventory was decreasing but a rise in foreclosure starts suggests that a tidal wave of foreclosures is building, especially in states with a judicial foreclosure process.

The U.S. federal government is scheduled to implement a fiscal tightening of unprecedented severity (approx. 5% of GDP) at the start of 2013. The last time a tightening of such proportions occurred (3% of GDP in 1969) it presaged a recession. Thus, unless mitigated by an act of Congress, we expect the fiscal cliff would lead the U.S. into a recession in 2013. Below, in 26 charts, we examine all aspects of the impending crisis to gauge its potential impact on the credit markets and, by extension, our strategic investment recommendations.

For the past 2 weeks I have been posting information on the state of the American union but compared to the other articles being posted they are consistently receive the read fewest reads. With Americans making up 55% of the 100,000 or so visits to the site each month it begs the question"Why are Americans ignoring the facts about their country that are necessary to make an informed decision as to who to vote for in the upcoming Presidential election?" Below is the 10th in the series with links to the previous nine.

Small businesses, typically cited as the “engine of growth” for the American economy, shed jobs faster than larger companies in the past decade...To see how they’re bouncing back now, click to view today’s full infographic from FaceThefactsUSA.org. Then check out all our facts so far here on our mobile site.

Governments everywhere are becoming more distressed and desperate as economic realities dominate the political doublespeak. The world is at a dangerous point. Much of what we thought we knew and assumed regarding governmental behavior and economics is beginning to be reassessed. Governments of the world are out of money and out of ideas. The ponzi scam that has been perpetrated for over fifty years is collapsing under its own weight. There are not enough suckers and capital left to sustain the fraud. [Let me explain further.] Words: 999

Think you know who gets social security? Think again! 36% of Social Security recipients are not retired workers, but children, the disabled, or spouses and survivors of workers. Almost one of every six Americans receives a Social Security benefit today. To see who benefits, how much they get and how much it matters to them, see today’s infographic. You'll be surprised!

In a note to clients, BofA rates strategists Priya Misra and Shyam Rajan say the Fed is "waiting for the triple threat" - three key triggers that must be met before the Fed does any additional easing. They are...

Many people have been writing in to ask me, "why are you focusing on Europe so much? Who cares about Spain?" The short answer is that everyone should care about Spain. Spain could potentially take down the banking system in Europe, which would mean the US facing a Financial Crisis at least on par with 2008. That is why Europe is a HUGE deal for everyone....We're talking about systemic risk on a scale that would make 2008 look tiny in comparison. [Let me explain further.] Words: 674

Every now and then, US taxpayer money goes for something useful and surprisingly informative such as this infographic from the US Census Bureau deconstructing the "American Economic Machine"...The graphic cites facts dealing with manufacturing, services, retail trade, construction, government and much more as seen through the numerous economic programs and surveys conducted by the Census Bureau.

"… those who are waiting for the Fed cavalry to ride over the hill and rescue the economy are doomed to disappointment....The banks are awash in loanable funds, businesses are cash-rich and opportunity-poor, and interest rates are already so low that lower still will not attract borrowing....More liquidity is unlikely to impart more impetus to the sluggish economy…. Congress and the President should not count on the Fed to bail them out of their mistakes…. Central banks are unable to help in the face of persistently flawed economic policies."