The Federal Reserve announces a decision on interest rates today, so a few economic notes:
- The 3rd quarter GDP is announced at a stronger than expected 3.9%. But consider this:
Despite rising worries about commodity prices, the GDP price index, the broadest measure of price changes in the economy, rose just 0.8% annualized, matching a nine-year low. Inflation hasn’t been lower since John F. Kennedy’s administration.
Bonddad says the report should raise eyebrows because deflators are usually over 2%.
- Macro and Other Market Musings notes the regional differences in United States economic growth. The Federal Reserve Bank in Philadelphia has a U.S. map showing the latest monthly coincident index for each state. In September Tennessee had between 0.1% and 0.5% growth.
- The Big Picture has a map showing state by state mortgage loan performance. The Tennessee number of delinquencies, defaults, and foreclosures improved at 0% – 5% rate over the past 12 months.
Elsewhere:
- The fine folks that brought us KnoxViews have now rolled out TennViews, a site featuring progressive Tennessee news and opinion.
- “Why men and women argue differently“
- Josh Marshall has a video from Islamofascism Awareness Week.