May 13, 2008
Why North Carolina is doing better?
Many national observers of the housing market have noted that North Carolina's residential sector has held up better than housing markets in many other states. In particular, sales and prices haven't dropped as much. What accounts for our good fortune? Luck? Listen
Continue reading "Why North Carolina is doing better?"
May 12, 2008
Is there an end in sight to rising oil prices?
First, it was $19 a barrel, then $100 a barrel, and now $115 a barrel. There seems to be no end in sight to the rising oil prices. It's hard to believe oil prices have risen so far, so fast just because more people in the world are driving cars. What's going on with these crazy oil prices? Listen
Continue reading "Is there an end in sight to rising oil prices?"
May 09, 2008
Food price inflation
Food prices have been rising rapidly. Have we just become spoiled to low food prices or has something triggered the big jumps we're seeing at the grocery store? Listen
Continue reading "Food price inflation"
May 08, 2008
Cap and trade
"Cap and trade" is a new phrase we're hearing with regard to controlling pollution. It may be more complicated than an outright ban on pollutants. Can you give us a tutorial? Listen
Continue reading "Cap and trade"
May 07, 2008
The future of tech jobs
A recent report said jobs in the technology fields increased at a relatively slow rate last year, surprising many analysts. So what's happening with the industry? Listen
Continue reading "The future of tech jobs"
May 06, 2008
A forgotten price of hybrids
Many people see hybrid cars, which are partially fueled by electricity, as a way to reduce our dependency on foreign oil and help the environment. But economists are famous for recommending that we look beyond the obvious at second and third stage implications of an action. So what might this mean for hybrid vehicles? Listen
Continue reading "A forgotten price of hybrids"
May 05, 2008
Is higher inflation a sure thing?
The news on inflation appears to be bad and getting worse. Prices for gas and food, certainly necessities for most people, have been sprinting upward. Some talk about the country moving into a period of stagflation or a nasty combination of recession and high inflation. Is there any good news to suggest that our inflation worries may be overstated? Listen
Continue reading "Is higher inflation a sure thing?"
May 02, 2008
The financial panic of '07 - 1907
Some say a financial crisis has been ongoing in the country for the last two years. A similar crisis happened 100 years ago, and it set the stage for some of the institutions we have today to deal with these situations. Give us a history lesson. Listen
Continue reading "The financial panic of '07 - 1907"
May 01, 2008
Are gas prices at an all-time high?
Gas prices just seem to keep going up and up and up. Surely we're at record levels for pump prices, but for an economist, there may be more to judging the level of gas prices than what we see. So go ahead, convince us we're not paying record prices. Listen
Continue reading "Are gas prices at an all-time high?"
April 30, 2008
Are utilities different?
All of us are being asked to conserve resources, from water to electricity to natural gas. But now we hear something that seems both disturbing and inconsistent. Some providers of these resources say when use falls, they have to charge higher prices to stay in business. This doesn't seem fair or logical. Help us out. Listen
Continue reading "Are utilities different?"
April 29, 2008
A win-win for government?
Often people look at government policies in a win-lose framework. Some group will gain from a particular policy, while other folks will lose. But is there ever a win-win outcome? Listen
Continue reading "A win-win for government?"
April 28, 2008
Lucky stores
Now that North Carolina has a state lottery, here's a question: Do stores that sell a winning lottery ticket reap any long-run benefits, that is, do people consider such stores lucky? Listen
Continue reading "Lucky stores"
April 25, 2008
Regulating the financial system
In an attempt to contain the nation's financial problems, the Federal Reserve has been making available large amounts of credit to the banking system. Now there's a proposal to increase the oversight and regulations of the Federal Reserve over the entire financial system. But whatever happened to the notion that if you or I or a bank makes a bad investment, that person or business should just take their losses and learn from their mistake? Listen
Continue reading "Regulating the financial system"
April 24, 2008
The North Carolina revenue picture
It won't be too long before the North Carolina General Assembly returns to Raleigh. When legislators do arrive, what kind of public revenue picture will greet them? Listen
Continue reading "The North Carolina revenue picture"
April 23, 2008
What's driving commodity prices?
Many economists have been surprised by the big runups in commodity prices, such as oil, metals and even gold. Typically during an economic slowdown, prices of these items retreat. What's different about today's commodity market? Listen
Continue reading "What's driving commodity prices?"
April 22, 2008
Why North Carolina might do better
Traditionally, North Carolina has fared worse than most other states during recessions. For example, in the last recession of 2001, only Michigan suffered more than North Carolina. So if we are now in another recession, should we expect it to be worse in North Carolina? Listen
Continue reading "Why North Carolina might do better"
April 21, 2008
Sources of Energy
Energy use is one of the top national issues, and it's likely to be with us for a long time. But before we know where we want to go, we need to know where we are. So where are we today with energy consumption? Listen
Continue reading "Sources of Energy"
April 18, 2008
Where to cut back
For households having a tough time in today's economy, with incomes not able to stretch to cover all spending, what can they do? What are some likely items for them to cut back on in their budget? Listen
Continue reading "Where to cut back"
April 17, 2008
Keeping in mind the good numbers
We're hearing many bad economic numbers today. The unemployment rate is rising. Job growth is slowing, and home foreclosures have set records in some regions. Is there any way to look at these numbers in a good light? Listen
Continue reading "Keeping in mind the good numbers"
April 16, 2008
Are drivers changing?
One of the complaints we've heard about drivers is that despite record high gas prices, gas consumption continued at the same rate. But recent information suggests this is changing. What's happened? Listen
Continue reading "Are drivers changing?"
April 15, 2008
When do recessions end?
Most economists now say the economy is in a recession? If this is the case, then the big question is, How long will the recession last and what will be the spark to end it? Listen
Continue reading "When do recessions end?"
April 14, 2008
What did the Fed do?
There was an earthquake of sorts in the financial markets recently when the Federal Reserve organized a rescue of the investment bank Bear-Stearns. This is all high and confusing finance. Was this just about saving some investors, or was there something bigger at stake? Listen
Continue reading "What did the Fed do?"
