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Monthly Archives: November 2009
Chart of the Day – Gold vs. the Dollar
Thanks in part to mounting US deficits and a weak US economy, the US dollar continues to trend lower. After all, a virtual collapse of the banking sector does have its consequences. For some perspective, today’s chart illustrates the current trend in the US dollar (blue line) as well as that other world currency, gold [...]
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The Housing Market’s Impact on the Economy
Market indexes received a welcome boost on Monday when a report was released indicating existing home sales jumped over 10 percent in October. Forecasters were expecting a rise of just 2 to 3 percent. However, the impact of this strong report may be short-lived. First, October sales were surely driven by the November 30th expiration [...]
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Chart of the Day: S&P 500 Earnings
With a large majority of third-quarter earnings in the books (87% of S&P 500 companies have reported for Q3 2009), today’s chart provides some long-term perspective to the current earnings environment by focusing on 12-month, as reported S&P 500 earnings. The chart illustrates how earnings declined over 92% from its Q3 2007 peak to its [...]
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Consumer Price Index Stats Revealed
According to the U.S. Labor Department, the core Consumer Price Index (CPI), which excludes volatile energy and food prices, rose 0.2% in October, primarily due to higher prices for new and used vehicles. Additionally, firming prices emerged in airfares and medical costs. Overall CPI increased .03% on rising energy prices. It is still down .02% [...]
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To Rise, Inflation Faces an Uphill Climb
Today’s producer-price index (PPI) indicated a rise of .3 percent in October. Economists were anticipating a rise of .5 percent. The consumer price index (CPI) is due out tomorrow morning. Tomorrow’s report could mark the start of more notable upward pressure on year-over-year inflation growth. Those who have been predicting higher inflation will certainly create [...]
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Chart of the Day: Dow Rallies
The Dow achieved a 2009 high Wednesday as it moved further above the 10,000 level. To provide some perspective to the current Dow rally that began back in March, all major market rallies of the last 109 years are plotted on today’s chart. Each dot represents a major stock market rally as measured by the [...]
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What Lenders Look For on a Credit Report
1. How many inquiries you have. “Soft” inquiries are made when you or an existing creditor checks your report; “hard” ones appear when you apply for credit. Only hard inquiries from the past year affect your credit score. The fewer, the better. Tip: Do any loan shopping within a 14-day window; all inquiries will count [...]
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Chart of the Day: Unemployment
Today, the Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate increased to 10.2% — a 26-year high. For some perspective on the current state of the labor market, today’s chart illustrates the unemployment rate since 1948. As the chart illustrates, today’s move above the 10% threshold marks only the second time such a move has occurred [...]
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Get Smart About Debt – Rule #5
Rule #5 of “Get Smart About Debt” is to keep up the good behavior. The tougher lending standards ushered in by the credit crisis are likely to stick around well after the recession is gone. Helping cement them are new laws that focus on consumer protection – such as stricter rules for credit card issuers, [...]
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Net Worth Advisory Group Seminar at LaCaille