2581. Retail Sales Increased 1.4% in March
Retail sales rose 1.4% in March, with a 4.6% increase from the previous year, reflecting positive economic trends and revisions in earlier months' data.
2582. MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
The post discusses a significant decrease in mortgage applications, highlighting trends in refinancing and purchasing amid rising mortgage rates and economic uncertainty.
2583. Sleazy Boomers and Wholesome Zoomers
An argument that contrasts the increasing promiscuity and drug use among baby boomers with the declining substance use and more conservative behaviors of younger generations.
2584. Is China the ultimate free-rider?
Tyler Cowen discusses China's rise and dependence on American influence, highlighting the complexities of global economics and geopolitics amid shifting alliances.
2585. Word of the Week: Coachella began as a typo. Here's what happened next
The post explores the history of Coachella, highlighting both the festival's significance and the cultural context of the location itself.
2586. OIRA: The tiny office that's about to remake the federal government
The post discusses the increased power of OIRA under a new executive order, affecting independent federal agencies and its implications for financial markets and democracy.
2587. Hong Kong post office will stop shipping parcels to the U.S. over tariffs
Hong Kong's post office will cease parcel shipments to the U.S. due to tariffs, highlighting the impact of U.S.-China trade disputes on the region.
2588. Why Shouldn’t We Subtract the Added Value from Imports from the Trade Deficit?
An argument that trade deficits measure money flows rather than value, and highlights the economic benefits of imports, including job creation and consumer surplus.
2589. WSJ Survey of Economists – April 2025
The post discusses a significant decline in GDP outlook, highlighting survey responses predicting recession and varying growth trajectories for upcoming quarters.
2590. What a Difference Two Weeks Makes: NABE Economists on the “Liberation Day” Effect
The post discusses changes in economic forecasts from NABE economists before and after a significant event termed "Liberation Day."
2591. Did DOGE take sensitive labor data?
An argument that a whistleblower claims the Department of Government Efficiency is improperly accessing sensitive data from a federal agency, raising concerns about its value and implications.
2592. Remembering Paul Lewis
G. Patrick Lynch reflects on the life and contributions of Paul Lewis, a notable scholar in political economy and classical liberal thought.
2593. Mark Zuckerberg defends Meta in court against monopoly claims
An argument that Zuckerberg defends Meta's acquisitions during a federal antitrust trial, where the government seeks to dismantle Instagram and WhatsApp.
2594. Las Vegas in February: Visitor Traffic Down 11.9% YoY; Convention Traffic Down 19.5% YoY
Bill McBride discusses the decline in visitor and convention traffic in Las Vegas for February 2025 compared to previous years, highlighting various contributing factors.
2595. Tuesday's Assorted Links
Unknown discusses various stories highlighting economic principles, including retirement withdrawals, AI anxiety among Gen Z, and the impact of tariffs on consumer prices.
2596. Rebranding the Trade Deficit
Kevin Corcoran argues that the term "trade deficit" is misleading and suggests rebranding it as "consumption surplus" to better reflect its implications.
2597. Trump plans order to cut funding for NPR and PBS
The post discusses Trump's plan to cut funding for NPR and PBS, citing accusations of bias from him and GOP members.
2598. Inside the "Brain" of Claude
The post explores the internal mechanisms of Claude 3.5 Haiku, detailing research on its neural network and the efforts to enhance AI safety and interpretability.
2599. Happy Tax Evasion Day!
The post discusses the anticipated surge in tax evasion due to IRS cuts, linking it to political decisions and the implications for federal revenue and social programs.
2600. The new silent majority
The author discusses the disconnect between political representation and voter preferences in the UK and US, highlighting a new silent majority of socially liberal voters.