Economic Disconnect

How Much Is Fed Suppressing Mortgage Rates?

JayB,
you are kidding right? Incentives for good behavior? What a laugh.

How Much Is Fed Suppressing Mortgage Rates?

Manya,
higher taxes are the game chamger here and I will write something along those lines soon.

Dragonpaw,
extend and pretend will go on as long as it seems credible (not to you or me but others!) and todays knockout employment report will help very much.

Tuck,
same thought as above, I do not see things changing in policy except even more spending policies.

How Much Is Fed Suppressing Mortgage Rates?

OptimizedPrime,
first off, your screen name is the best!

Second, you are very right to point out that real mortgages from a non governemnt agency is going to be much higher due to the "walk away" mode that has occurred.

Another Crisis Looms Right Around the Corner

This is a great write up and an important caution about the near term. Thanks for the great article.

On U.S. Housing and Debased Lending Standards

All,
I just canot think these programs will not be renewed afetr a rough winter housing season. I would add that I always cover my wrong calls, and will if I am wrong this time.

Shadow Inventory: Conspiracy Theory or Real?

BioGuy,
Thanks for checking out some of my articles. Yes, if you are the scientific type then economics will seem pretty annoying to you!

Commercial Real Estate: Is the Fed About to Do Something Right?

Dragonpaw,
I know this will probably not hold, but I wanted to try and be nice!

We Interrupt This Market Rally for the Largest Bond Sale in History

All,
Thanks for all the comments.

Goldbug,
The safety deposit box story has not really made news as yet, I think it is pretty important.

U.S. Economy: It's Up to Us to Make It Better

Manya05,
Good recommendations, I would add term limits as well.

U.S. Economy: It's Up to Us to Make It Better

Jason,
yell all you like, this is an important core issue.

U.S. Economy: It's Up to Us to Make It Better

Steve,
Great point. I had wanted to include that but was running low on time.

All, call me EconDisc or just Econ, ED is not how I want to be thought of!
Friday Humor.

Wells Fargo Earnings: First Leak in the Dam?

$116 Billion in bond sales next week (plus some TIPS) will sure make watching the sales very interesting. Is the FED out of QE ammo yet? Surely next week they will be.

Credit Card Companies Gone Wild and Other Economic Happenings

David,
I understand, but what about $100 yearly fees even for those "no balance" card holders? You may think $100 is no problem for their service, but it is still a ripoff. I know the banks dont care what I or anyone else does (unless a lot of people do it) but I am out.

Funny personal story;
I used to be a big gearhead and loved Chevrolet. I have had a GM Visa card forever and have enough points towards a purchase to get about 4k-5k off a new GM. Problem is after buying an Infiniti a few years ago (and anew one last year) I will never buy another brand! Guess those points are wasted!

Credit Card Companies Gone Wild and Other Economic Happenings

Jason 722,
I missed that one, glad you picked it out as very important.

BAC PL,
I had never heard of that (Revolution) card, but it seems to have had limited success. Do you have any personal experience with that card?

Credit Card Companies Gone Wild and Other Economic Happenings

neers87,
My wife and I are in the same boat. No reason for this kind of customer abuse other than some kind of desperation. This would be a great moment for a new CC company called "You Deserve It" that will only charge 1%-2% over their own borrow rates and extend that CC rate to the best borrowers. Sure, the profit margin is small, but tthink of the volume of business it would command. Any have some start up money?

No advice on anyone's own situtaion, but I am closing out my cards after this ridiculous gouging attempt. I refuse to play.