Category: Economy
114 posts categorized as "Economy"
Agriculture: An Essential Asset
December 13, 2012
Last week, I wrote about the essential asset class of energy. This week, I want to highlight another essential asset class that has been a solid long-term investment and a significant export driver for the U.S. economy: agriculture. U.S. agriculture exports have grown over 50 percent in the last three years alone as we attempt…
Retail Spending Indicates Consumer Optimism
December 12, 2012
If you believe everything you hear, then your anxiety must be through the roof right now knowing that the “Fiscal Cliff” is going to send our economy into another recession, the debt ceiling is going to crush our credit ratings with Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s, and then of course the world is going to…
The Fiscal Bluff
December 7, 2012
In the Weekly Market Review, I talked about how the relationship between federal deficits and economic growth are different than what many people believe (take a look at the data below). While there is a chicken and egg relationship between deficits and growth, lower deficits do usually go hand-in-hand with higher GDP growth and more…
Why I Like Energy
December 6, 2012
Only a few asset classes can be defined as essential to human existence. Energy is arguably the most important asset of that essential sub sector. An essential asset doesn’t always take precedence in your underlying portfolio, but by simple default via sheer magnitude, it will always have an impact. The world’s economy might be finally able to…
Move to Cash? Think Twice!
December 6, 2012
Lately, investors seem to have several questions about moving to cash. Many feel the market peaked during this cycle, and with the “Fiscal Cliff” escapades in full force, now may be a good time to get out while still ahead. However, CLS generally suggests that investors stay committed to long-term investment goals, unless there is…
Trivia Tuesday!
December 4, 2012
Holiday shopping is now in full-swing in stores and online. Do you know the answers to these 2012 holiday shopping stats? 1. How much are holiday sales expected to increase by this year? a. 2 percent b. 3 percent c. 4 percent – holiday sales are expected to increase 4 percent this year, beating the…
Lincoln and the Fiscal Cliff
November 29, 2012
Last weekend, my wife and I saw the movie “Lincoln.” It depicts the passage of the 13th Amendment, which banned slavery at the end of the Civil War. Prior to seeing the film, I hadn’t thought much about the political wrangling needed to pass such an important omission from the U.S. Constitution. Morally, it seems…
Mr. Grinch Inflation
November 27, 2012
Each year, PNC Wealth Management prices out the items from the iconic song “The 12 days of Christmas.” Believe it or not, 364 gifts are given in that song by the end of the 12th day. This year, PNC has declared the most expensive year ever for the gifts. The grand total of $107,300 is up more than…
Trip to Nicaragua Teaches Valuable Lessons
November 21, 2012
During this Thanksgiving season, there is a plethora of topics which could be addressed at our tables as families and friends gather together: election results, the upcoming fiscal cliff or slope (depending on who you talk to), continued uncertainty in Europe, Black Friday game planning, napping, football, and more. While the coming months will be…
Fiscal Cliff vs. Debt Ceiling Drama
November 14, 2012
While concerns are mounting around the fiscal cliff, it is important to contrast the 2011 economic environment resulting from the debt ceiling drama and the current state of affairs. When the full impact of the debt ceiling’s contentious negotiations hit in 2011, the economic environment was very different from today in two important areas. One,…