South By North Strategies, Ltd.

Around The Dial – November 29, 2011

Economic policy reports, blog postings, and media stories of interest:

• Neal Deal 2.0 worries about student loan debt.
• Rortybomb notes 8 facts about extending unemployment insurance.
• Robert Skidelsky warns against “the wages of economic ignorance.”
• Paul Krugman contemplates a tax on financial transactions.
• Harold Meyerson describes a tension between capitalism and democracy.

SBN In The News: November 2011

South by North Strategies’ analyses of economic issues appeared in several media stories in November.

• The Associated Press: “Occupy Protests: Shop mom-and-pop on Black Friday”
  
• The News & Observer: “State’s jobless rate at 10.4 percent”
• The Charlotte Observer: “State’s jobless rate at 10.4 percent”
• The Winston-Salem Journal: “NC’s jobless rate drops for first time in eight months”
• Triangle Business Journal:  “Counties find myriad ways to pare budgets across N.C.”

Service Activity In The South Atlantic: Nov. 2011

From the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s latest survey of service-sector activity in the South Atlantic (District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia):

Service sector activity strengthened in November, boosted by improvement in the retail sub-sector, according to the latest survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Revenues at services-providing firms were nearly flat this month, but retail sales jumped and foot traffic rose sharply. Big-ticket sales were flat, however. Retail inventories expanded and merchants were upbeat about potential sales during the next six months. Services providers remained optimistic about revenues in the six months ahead, though their outlook was somewhat less enthusiastic than in October.
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The number of employees in the broad service sector edged down, driven by continuing cuts in retail. In addition, average wage increases were less prevalent in November.
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The pace of service sector price change picked up in November, compared with a month ago. Survey respondents also expected a somewhat faster rate of price increase during the next six months than they predicted last month.

Around The Dial – November 28, 2011

Economic policy reports, blog postings, and media stories of interest:

• Fed Watch doesn’t like what is happening in the global economy.
• Martin Wolf says the Eurozone “must advance or face ruin.”
• Paul Krugman explains “we are the 99.9 percent.”
• National Journal reports on the surge of long-term unemployment.
• Econbrowser argues that blocking tax increases for the 1% is a losing battle.
• Economist’s View points out “why America should share the wealth.”

Manufacturing In The South Atlantic: Nov. 2011

From the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s latest survey of manufacturing activity in the South Atlantic (District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia):

Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region stabilized in November following four months of contraction, according to the Richmond Fed’s latest survey. The index of overall activity steadied as a slightly positive reading for shipments offset a slight decrease in new orders and a flat reading in employment. Modest improvement was also evident in most other indicators. District contacts reported continuing moderate weakness in backlogs, but noted that capacity utilization edged lower. Delivery times grew at a somewhat quicker pace, while inventories grew at a slightly slower rate.
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Looking forward, manufacturers were generally more optimistic about their business prospects for the next six months. Contacts at more firms anticipated that shipments, new orders, backlogs, capacity utilization and capital expenditures would grow more quickly during the next six months.