» Posted by Martin Weil on May 29, 2008

Yes, there is a silver lining.

» Posted by Martin Weil on May 26, 2008

...an estimated 1% of America's wealth migrates into foreign hands every year.

So writes Pimco's Bill Gross in this June opinion piece. Gross proceeds to call Americans "overweight, poorly educated, overindulged, and imbued with such a sense of self importance" as he despairs of our declining global competitiveness and the public's seeming fixation on the trivial at the expense of the critical.

» Posted by Martin Weil on May 16, 2008

The relative size of national GDP as compared to that of the US in picture form. Ten years ago, perhaps even five, China would not have even been visible on this chart. (Image and data from the World Bank)

» Posted by Martin Weil on May 13, 2008

The NY Times has an excellent graphic (registration required) detailing the components that make up the official US inflation measurement (CPI). In it, you will learn that, of the pieces that make up CPI, the largest percentage increase in the last year was, unsurprisingly, in energy costs, with fuel oil increasing 48% since March 2007. On the other end, girls' clothes declined by 9% and TVs 18%. although the latter is a manipulated number and not a reflection of what you or I actually would pay for a new TV today.