141. MBA: Mortgage Applications Decreased Over a Two-Week Period
Bill McBride discusses a significant decrease in mortgage applications over two weeks, highlighting trends in refinancing and purchase activity based on MBA data.
142. The world has too much oil right now. Will companies want Venezuela's?
Camila Domonoske discusses the current low crude prices and the cautious approach of companies towards Venezuela's abundant heavy oil reserves.
143. Trump Mobile's golden phone remains nowhere to be found
A promised golden phone from Trump's family business remains unreleased amid a surge of new technology at CES in Las Vegas.
144. Trump says US to get 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela at market price
The post discusses Trump's announcement of acquiring Venezuelan oil to benefit both the U.S. and Venezuela, emphasizing the market price for the transaction.
145. Tuesday's Assorted Links
The post highlights various stories illustrating economic principles, including price discrimination and the impact of political decisions on economic advice.
146. Light Vehicle Sales Increased to 16.0 Million SAAR in December
Light vehicle sales rose to 16.0 million SAAR in December, reflecting a monthly increase but a year-over-year decline, influenced by consumer behavior and market conditions.
147. Accounting vs. Economic Profit
An argument that distinguishes between accounting profit and economic profit, illustrating their implications through a real-life example of resource allocation decisions.
148. Attempting to predict the economy in 2026
An argument that economists struggle with predictions, yet there remains interest in their forecasts for the economy in the coming years.
149. SBSQ #28: Was Tim Walz gonna lose?
Nate Silver discusses Tim Walz's political situation and the implications of foreign policy, particularly regarding Venezuela, on domestic politics and voter attitudes.
150. Update: The Housing Bubble and Mortgage Debt as a Percent of GDP
Bill McBride discusses the increase in mortgage debt as a percent of GDP and its implications for the economy, emphasizing the risk of a recession.
151. America’s National Parks Just Got More Expensive For Some Visitors
The post discusses increased entry fees for international visitors to U.S. national parks, explaining the economic concept of price discrimination based on visitors' willingness to pay.
152. The Real Donroe Doctrine
Paul Krugman discusses Trump's misguided approach to Venezuela, comparing it to past U.S. interventions and highlighting the delusions driving his foreign policy decisions.
153. Rent With Multiple Agricultural Commodities
An argument that explores the application of efficiency and rentability analysis to a model involving multiple agricultural commodities and their production processes.
154. Housing January 5th Weekly Update: Inventory Down 2.2% Week-over-week
The post discusses a 2.2% week-over-week decline in active single-family housing inventory, highlighting seasonal trends and comparisons to previous years.
155. New redesigned coins marking nation's 250th birthday begin circulating today
Scott Horsley discusses the introduction of redesigned coins to commemorate the nation's 250th birthday, highlighting their significance and features.
156. Russian GDP in Question
An argument that Russian GDP statistics may be overstated, with implications for the economy's ability to sustain military efforts amid declining oil revenues.
157. U.S. interventions in the New World, with leader removal
The discussion evaluates U.S. interventions in Latin America, focusing on leader removals and their utilitarian outcomes, contrasting successes and failures across various historical cases.
158. Where does a liberal go from here?
The author reflects on the evolution of liberalism, its historical challenges, and the progress made in welfare and social policies in America since the 1980s.
159. Stories Beyond Demographics
An argument that stories should focus on universal human experiences rather than mere demographic representation to foster deeper connections and understanding.
160. China’s Trade Surplus, Part II
An argument that China's unprecedented trade surplus stems from unsustainable economic strategies, affecting global demand and posing risks to both its economy and others.