revolving-debt

I had to step back from the market the last few days.  Trying to follow it by the minute you sometimes lose the bigger perspective of what really is transpiring.  On Thursday for example, the market was heading for another major loss continuing a multi-day trend and it looked like we were going to test […]

Leave it to California to first, stall a budget for a record 85 days only to pass a budget that amounts to kicking the economic shiny can down the pothole-filled road.  We may want to save those cans for their redemption value since things are getting progressively worse.  Only 6 weeks after being signed, the […]

In the midst of this epic and monumental election campaign, which I do sincerely hope you go out and vote, the number one issue which is the economy is now fluttering into the abyss at a much quicker pace.  On Monday, automotive sale numbers came out and the numbers were downright shocking.  U.S. auto sales […]

Figuring out housing prices isn’t rocket science.  There is no need for a master’s degree in financial engineering to figure this out folks.  Even as the housing market continues its downward slump, we are still at overpriced levels.  Why?  Well historically, housing as an investment only tracks with the nation’s inflation rate.  That is until […]

You may recall that in the distant past (Monday) the House of Representatives voted in a decent margin to say no to the housing bailout bill.  So after a 777 point market smack down, economic fear mongering, and polling politicians found out that Americans don’t like the sound of the word “bailout.”  So from now […]

You would think that given the magnitude and sheer size of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailout that Americans would at least be more curious about the formula as to how this thing is going to unfold.  [Cue the Crickets].  Instead, the public is focused on the “shiny things” once again like someone suffering […]

Given the recent positive reading for GDP, some are now doubting that we will even face a recession.  This of course is a misnomer and most average Americans realize that our country finds itself in a very tenuous situation.  It is very easy to brush off the current talk of economic malaise as simply another […]

Much to my surprise as I was watching the Olympics this weekend, guess who appeared at the events in China?  Our own Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson was out on a vacation in China.  He was on Meet the Press with Tom Brokaw discussing the economic situation back home in the United States.  Everyone is entitled […]

Many people reading this blog from states with moderate housing prices have a very hard time understanding how a family earning $100,000 a year is having a challenging time staying in the middle class ranks. The idea of a six-figure income certainly doesn’t connote the same wealthy status as it did a decade ago. […]

The DataQuick numbers for Southern California were released today and the numbers were astounding. Yes, I’m sure that you’ve heard that line probably a thousand times in the last year but in reality, each month gives more and more insight into the absolute corruption and malfeasance that propelled this housing bubble to its […]