Economics Update

Today has actually been a good news day, with US industrial production increasing by 0.2% in July, though one should remember that inflation is 0.8%, the the consumer sentiment index rose in Augst, though July was a 28 year low, and the New York Fed Manufacturing Index rose. (no qualifiers on this one, it really appears to be good news)

Good news on all my standard metrics too, oil down, gas down, and dollar up.

Inflation is the fly in the ointment, as Dean Baker notes, because the increased inflation means that the 3rd quarter will almost certainly be a contraction.

I would, however be remiss if I did not note that commodity prices are falling very sharply, which may bring moderation in inflation in the coming months.

In the economic scandals section, we have Wachovia joining the parade of banks and investment houses settling on auction rate securities, to the tune of $5.5 billion.

In the "It should be a scandal," category, we have S&P deciding not to downgrade MBIA and Ambac, even though anyone with two brain cells to rub together knows that the monoliner insurers are junk

I would also note that I'm wondering if we will see a Peso rally, because Mexico's central bank just increased rates for the 3rd straight month.

And The Onion is a national treasure: