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U.S. companies shouldn't worry about inflation if they're planning on expanding their business,...

  • Thursday, February 24, 2011, 5:05 PM ET
    U.S. companies shouldn't worry about inflation if they're planning on expanding their business, Obama says at the first meeting of his Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. "We're not seeing a broad-based inflation trend." At the meeting, Geithner says substantial world oil reserves should help with any disruptions to oil supplies.
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This news story has 15 comments:

  • Its all noise when your currency is going to zero.
    24 Feb 2011, 05:07 PM Reply Like
  • I don't know about the rest of you but I feel a whole lot better. Thanks afalfa and buckwheat.
    24 Feb 2011, 05:10 PM Reply Like
  • Yeah, Obama's got decades of experience in business.., er, education, er, no, law practice, no, running for office..., yeah that's it.
    24 Feb 2011, 05:14 PM Reply Like
  • Good plan that, don't attack his argument attack him and his credibility...
    24 Feb 2011, 05:23 PM Reply Like
  • "attack him and his credibility... "

    What credibility? Community organizing assumes a community that you can shake down. We're losing 'community' day by day.
    24 Feb 2011, 06:45 PM Reply Like
  • He doesn't have an argument. What he made is an assertion that is only backed by his credibility, which of course he lacks.
    24 Feb 2011, 06:45 PM Reply Like
  • ok, let's start with his first sentences. "don't worry about inflation if you're planning on expanding your business... We're not seeing broad based inflation trend." I can't recall the last time my expansion plans had inflation as a factor. The statement is prima facie evidence of the man's naivete.

    Let's assume for the moment my whole business was about inflation, that the O claims is not there. It is for the inputs to my manufacturing operation - electricity, fuel, raw materials. It is for any buys from overseas, more hedging, forwards etc. The only place it's not is in US commercial real estate that I wouldn't buy anyway b/c more often than not, I can restructure existing plant to optimize space and add capacity that way.


    Businesses require a market and stable operating environments in which to expand, neither of which O's policies have engendered - an uncertain tax system, a weakening dollar (continued from the W idiot), and the new health care law (actually a tax bill) which is dramatically increasing cost for businesses. How do any of these things support expanding businesses?
    25 Feb 2011, 08:40 AM Reply Like
  • That dear sir (or madam) is a fair analysis and good discourse!
    25 Feb 2011, 06:27 PM Reply Like
  • Just because you aren't seeing broad based inflation doesn't mean it's not there. Governments are being toppled because of the inflation that you deny exists.
    24 Feb 2011, 06:59 PM Reply Like
  • Phew! Glad that's been cleared up. Now I don't have to worry about the value of all that cash I have stuffed in my mattress.
    24 Feb 2011, 07:24 PM Reply Like
  • I was just reading the letter at the following SA Global Current that addresses Obama's typically disingenuous claim. His "broad-based inflation" claim relies on an extreme weighting to housing that doesn't reflect what the average person consumes on an on-going basis. If you're one that is continually buying up housing you're seeing deflation, but for everyone else we're seeing inflation.

    seekingalpha.com/curre...

    "We believe that that commodity price inflation has primarily been driven by demand coupled with (in some cases) supply‐side shocks in 2010. Interestingly, United States “core” inflation will not move materially until the US housing market turns, which we believe could be up to 3 years away. The reason for this phenomenon is that housing (excluding the energy component) comprises roughly 37% of the headline CPI calculation and 49% of the core CPI calculation. The rest is just details, especially when food and energy are removed. Unfortunately, if you eat or drive every day, you are already feeling the impact of inflation."
    24 Feb 2011, 07:36 PM Reply Like
  • Imagine a world where our leaders had a clue and told the truth.
    24 Feb 2011, 08:24 PM Reply Like
  • palin for president!
    24 Feb 2011, 09:06 PM Reply Like
  • Why does Obama bother to MAKE statements like this, given his track record and obvious cluelessness about economics? I guess it makes those who watch MSNBC (and believe anything they say) feel better.
    24 Feb 2011, 10:27 PM Reply Like
  • They only talk after small notes have been passed to them.
    24 Feb 2011, 11:23 PM Reply Like
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