Submitted by CARPE DIEM

The map above (click to enlarge) is an updated version of this map, based on 2006 GDP by state available here, and GDP by country available here.
It’s hard to comprehend the enormous size of the U.S. economy ($14 trillion), but this map puts $14,000,000,000,000 into perspective. See previous CD posts here, here, […]

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Submitted by Econbrowser
Last week, I wrote a post examining what the measures of central tendency for the dollar’s trajectory were, based upon some standard forecasts. This week, I want to examine more closely whether we should anticipate more depreciation, in real terms, by way of discussing alternative measures of the dollar’s value.
As I’ve discussed in […]

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Submitted by Businomics Blog
My colleagues who contribute to the Wall Street Journal’s poll worry more about recession now than they did last month.

Although financial problems are in the news, I suspect that many of us are more worried about Main Street. Reports that consumers are spending less, such as the Journal’s article about plastic […]

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Submitted by CARPE DIEM

The chart above (click to enlarge) displays futures trading on Intrade.com for the most traded contracts. The most current trading indicates that Hillary is about a 2:1 favorite over Obama (61% to 31% chance of being the Democratic nominee), and Giuliani has more than 2:1 lead over Romney (40.2% vs. 18.6% chance […]

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Submitted by CARPE DIEM

Invest in the “Living Large Index,” a stock index of businesses that cater to affluent consumers: luxury-goods makers, higher-end retailers like Tiffany and Saks, and travel and entertainment companies. Read about in the NY Times Business Section here.
A completely different investment strategy is offered by ultra-hip mutual fund company Thrasher Funds, which […]

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Submitted by CARPE DIEM

According to Larry Kudlow writing in his most recent column:
“The Fed also must undo the inverted Treasury yield curve whereby the 4.5% Fed Funds rate remains well above the 4% 10-year Treasury rate. This situation has prevailed for 18 months (see shaded area in chart above); unless it’s fixed immediately, it […]

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Submitted by CARPE DIEM
CARACAS (NY Times) — When all else fails, change you country’s time by a half-hour and create a new time zone.
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Submitted by CARPE DIEM
Thanks to CNBC’s Larry Kudlow for mentioning this Carpe Diem post on last night’s program of “Kudlow and Company.”
Thanks also to Larry for a nice mention of Carpe Diem in his most recent nationally syndicated newspaper column.
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Submitted by CARPE DIEM
From the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group Fed Watch:
Based upon today’s (December 10) market close, the 30-Day Federal Funds futures contract for the December 2007 expiration is currently pricing in a 100% probability that the FOMC will decrease the target rate by at least 25 basis points from 4.5% to 4.25% at […]

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