Economics Update

Busy day, so let's start with the central banks: The Bank of England cuts rates by 50 basis points (½%), and is engaging in quantitative easing (printing money) in the form of buying £75 billion ($US 106 B), and the European cut its benchmark rate by 50 basis points to 1.5%, and is also looking at "further non-standard measures" (see quantitative easing).

Considering that the ECB has no charge except to manage inflation, this is extraordinary.

Unsurprisingly, the rates cuts have driven the dollar up.

As Brad Delong Notes, "It is overwhelmingly likely that the current downturn-in-progress will then surpass the united 1979-1982 downturn as the worst downturn since the Great Depression itself."

In employment, first time jobless claims fell to 639,000, but the less volatile 4 week moving average rose to 641,750, the "highest since October 1982," and productivity dropped 0.4% in Q4 of 2008.

Bumpy ride, folks.

On the brighter side Bonddad's credit indicators show a thaw in lending over the past few months, and February retail sales beat expectations, though the numbers are still pretty bad.

In autos, GM is saying that there is "substantial doubt" about whether it can survive in an SEC filing, not a surprise, and implies Chapter 11, which further implies liquidation for Chrysler.

Mortgage rates rose last week.

Oil, meanwhile fell in response to the generally anemic economic news.