Over recent weeks evidence of economic slowdown has been accumulating. The latest data is focused on manufacturing, which had been a strong area of the economy earlier in the year. The Over recent weeks evidence of economic slowdown has been accumulating. The latest data is focused on manufacturing, which had been a strong area of the global economy earlier in the year. Reports from around the world are summarized below but the latest bombshell came from the Richmond Fed, which issued a stunning report yesterday (May 24): Manufacturing activity, shipments and new orders fell to levels not seen since the middle of The Great Recession. more »

Leading contributions to GDP growth over the pastAccording to advance data, 20 of 22 industry groups contributed to real GDP growth in 2010.  The summary:Manufacturing value added—a measure of an industry’s contribution to GDP—rose 5.8 percent in 2010, a sharp return to growth after… more »

Online purchases of discretionary durable items are lagging other areas of retail sales. more »

Fund managers Constock Capital have written that there are a number of reasons why this is not a normal economic recovery. They say the facts speak for themselves and feel the Fed continuing with QE2 is justified. more »

The BEA has revised (slightly downward) total GDP numbers for the three years 2007-2009. Components are analysized. more »