Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Disturbing Charts (Update 4)

I find the following charts to be disturbing. These charts would be disturbing at any point in the economic cycle; that they depict such a tenuous situation now – 21 months after the official (as per the 9-20-10 NBER announcement) June 2009 end of the recession – is especially notable.

These charts raise a lot of questions. As well, they highlight the "atypical" nature of our economic situation from a long-term historical perspective. I regularly discuss many troubling characteristics of our economy in this EconomicGreenfield.com blog.

All of these charts (except one, as noted) are from The Federal Reserve, and represent the most recently updated data.

These following charts are from the St. Louis Federal Reserve:

(click on charts to enlarge images)

Housing starts (last updated 3-16-11):


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The Federal Deficit (last updated 2-17-11):


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Federal Net Outlays (last updated 2-17-11):


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State & Local Personal Income Tax Receipts (% Change from Year Ago)(last updated 3-25-11):


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Total Loans and Leases of Commercial Banks (% Change from Year Ago)(last updated 4-11-11):


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Bank Credit – All Commercial Banks (% Change from Year Ago)(last updated 4-11-11):


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M1 Money Multiplier (last updated 4-7-11):


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Median Duration of Unemployment (last updated 4-1-11):


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This next chart is from the CalculatedRisk.com blog post of 4-1-11, and it shows (in red) the relative length and depth of this downturn and subsequent recovery from an employment perspective:


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This last chart is of the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) and it depicts broad-based economic activity (last updated 3-21-11):


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I will update these charts on an intermittent basis as they deserve close monitoring...

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The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation

SPX at 1312.31 as this post is written

1 comment:

  1. Since the day Ronald Reagan took office until this very day the rich of this nation have gotten much richer, the poor have become poorer, and the middle class, the largest, most loyal and law obiding citizens have been left to carry the load. The richest have all (~95%) abandoned the concept and ideals of being fiscal stewards and loyal to the cause. Those days should be brought to an end immediately. Either they bring all profits and evaded tax money back into this country or the Government should ban all of them, their children, and first of kin from living here, attending our schools, and using our systems and infrastructure. Our founding fathers would never have allowed this mess to get to where it is now. NEVER! The Treasury Department, Federal Reserve, and the IRS have a responsibility to the true, loyal, tax paying citizens of this nation to publically expose and penalize individuals and corporations who are not being fiscal stewards and loyal to the cause. Publicize names and info in newspapers, on the internet, in TV commercials, etc. Start with GE, EXXONMobil, and Apple and I gaurantee you the rest will quickly change their ways and get back to building this nation for long-term growth and stability.

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