Economic Perspective

The real unemployment rate

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500

The unemployment rate receives the most attention as an indicator of the health of the economy. In North Carolina, this rate has been above 10 percent for most of the year. Yet does the usually stated unemployment rate give the most complete picture of the job market? Listen

Is borrowing bad?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:10:24 -0500

Borrowing seems to be out now. Consumers are trying to pay down on debts, and the government is receiving a lot of criticism about all the borrowing it has done to fight the recession. But have we moved too far the other way? Aren't there some good times to and good purposes for borrowing? Listen

Gains from college

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500

There's no doubt that getting a college degree is a big plus for most people in getting a good-paying job. But how have those gains held up in our turbulent economy? Listen

Consumer spending

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500

One of the economic numbers we frequently hear is that we consumers account for 70 percent of all spending in the economy, and therefore, the economy moves as consumer spending moves. Is this accurate? Listen

A long view of the stock market

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500

The stock market has certainly been volatile in the past year, falling dramatically and then staging a partial rebound this year. Many people are understandably very shy about investing in the market. But give us the long view of the stock market. Has it really made money for people over several decades? Listen

Outlook for paychecks

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Probably the two most important economic factors for most people are whether they have a job and if so, what they get paid. Let's focus on the second factor today. What are economists seeing in the prospects for pay and pay increases next year? Listen

Inflation worries

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Some analysts keep saying that one threat to the economy is higher inflation. This worry is prompted by all the spending and money creation the government has done in the past year to fight the recession. Are we seeing any signs yet of higher inflation? Listen

Dueling multipliers

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0500

There's already a debate going on about the federal spending stimulus plan designed to combat the recession. The debate is about how effective the stimulus has been. What can economists say at this point? Listen

Social Security investments

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0500

There seems to be much discussion about what happens to contributions made to Social Security by taxpayers. Many people believe this money is immediately loaned to the federal government and replaced with IOUs. Is this true, and is it something to worry about? Listen

Social Security outlook

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0500

For the first time in 25 years, the Social Security system has had to dip into its reserve funds in order to make payments to recipients. Is this the start of a worrisome trend? Is Social Security now in trouble? Listen

North Carolina business costs

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Forbes magazine recently ranked both states and localities in their attractiveness for new businesses. How did our state and cities do? Listen

Mortgage resets

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Although there have been some recent bright signs in the housing market, concerns still linger. One of them has to do with mortgage resets. Explain what these are and why they may be an issue. Listen

Income trends

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Each year the Census Bureau releases a massive volume on the latest trends in income for the country. The 2009 report just came out. Give us some of the highlights. Listen

Rent or own?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0500

It wasn't so long ago that everyone recommended buying a home. Renting was said to be just throwing money down the drain. Now with the drop in the housing market the last two years, attitudes have changed. Can we now say that renting trumps owning? Listen

Inflation or deflation

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Both inflation and deflation have been in the news recently, and it seems like analysts alternate between worrying about one or the other. Give us definitions of inflation and deflation, and tell us which is worse? Listen