Real Time Economics

Fed Sent $15 Billion to Treasury in First Quarter

Ian Talley — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:11:06 +0000

The Fed sent $15.291 billion it made in interest in the first quarter of the year on long-term bonds to the Treasury Department, down around 35% from a year ago, the Fed said in its quarterly financial report.

Secondary Sources: Inequality, Corporate Taxes, Economic History

Phil Izzo — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:51:32 +0000

A roundup of economic news from around the Web.

Analysis: Not All Good News in Durables Report

WSJ Staff — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:18:39 +0000

The reading on durable goods orders surprised to the upside but Bob Brusca, chief economist at Fact & Opinion Economics, tells the Journal’s Mathew Passy that he sees manufacturing slowing down.

Vital Signs Chart: Fewer Collecting Unemployment

Neil Shah — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:08:27 +0000

The number of Americans claiming unemployment benefits fell 112,000 in the week ended May 11, to 2,912,000, the lowest level in five years.

A World of Debt

Phil Izzo — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:00:16 +0000

Asian nations are amassing debt, according to an article in today's Journal, but the whole world has boosted borrowing in the past decade.

IMF Rethinking Role in Managing Sovereign Debt in Crises

Ian Talley — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:04:25 +0000

The International Monetary Fund is rethinking its role in how sovereign debt is managed in crises, concerned that recent developments in sovereign debt markets threaten the effectiveness of its bailout programs.

Don’t Get Too Excited About Record New-Home Prices

Robbie Whelan — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:04:14 +0000

Sales of new homes -- a key economic driver across multiple industries -- are steadily recovering. But more striking is the pace at which prices of new homes are recovering.

Early Look at U.S. Manufacturing Indicates Moderate Expansion

Kathleen Madigan — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:39:46 +0000

U.S. factory sector appears to be slowing slightly, according to an early reading of May activity released Thursday.

Fed’s Williams: Bond Purchases Could Move Up Even After Tapering Starts

WSJ Staff — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:35:50 +0000

Federal Reserve policymakers have flexibility to ratchet up or down the pace of their bond buying program even if they should opt to begin a tapering at some point, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President John Williams said.

After Slow 2013, NY Fed Sees Growth Picking Up Next Year

Michael S. Derby — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:37:20 +0000

Economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York expect slower, trend-like growth this year due to the drag created by government taxation and spending policies, and project things will speed up next year.

What Does China’s Labor Market Really Look Like?

Tom Orlik — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:58:01 +0000

China’s labor markets are flashing a warning sign, with new job adverts on a leading recruitment website sharply down in April, and job losses in manufacturing spreading to the services sector.

Secondary Sources: Retirement, Farm Subsidies, Preschool Education

Phil Izzo — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:21:06 +0000

A roundup of economic news from around the Web.

Venezuela’s Turmoil No Laughing Matter

Charles Roth — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:57:54 +0000

The repercussions from Venezuela’s economic policies are providing journalists with excellent fodder for humorous headlines, replete with puns.

Vital Signs Chart: 16% of Work Force Foreign Born

Neil Shah — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:49:56 +0000

The share of workers in the labor force born outside the U.S. hit 16.1% last year, from 15.9% in 2011 and 15.5% in 2009 -- having dipped during the recession.

U.S. Cities Growing Faster Than Suburbs

Neil Shah — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:00:26 +0000

America’s biggest cities are continuing to outgrow their suburbs as the plodding recovery makes it harder for city dwellers to move to greener pastures.

Millennials Are Better Savers Than Boomers, Gen-X

Brenda Cronin — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:40:27 +0000

Here’s some good news for the Council for Economic Education, a group that helps grade-school instructors teach economics: Millennials know how to save.

Volcker: Multiple Bank Regulators Is ‘Recipe for Getting Nothing Done’

David Wessel — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:22:39 +0000

Paul Volcker, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve, says the U.S. has too many agencies charged with the supervision and regulation of banks.

Sen. Sanders Again Targets Regional Fed Boards

Michael R. Crittenden — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:11:57 +0000

One of Wall Street’s toughest Capitol Hill critics is again trying to keep bankers off the boards of directors for regional Federal Reserve banks, calling the practice a “clear conflict of interest.”

Parsing Fed Minutes: Debating When to Pull Back

Jon Hilsenrath — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:03:23 +0000

Federal Reserve minutes from its April 30-May 1 policy meeting suggested it is heading toward some difficult debates on when to pull back its bond buying program.

Buying a Computer Won’t Raise Your Kids’ Grades

Brenda Cronin — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:26:53 +0000

A home computer isn’t going to improve a child’s performance at school, according to a new paper by two economists at the University of California, Santa Cruz.