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Thoughts From The Divide: How To Know

BY JON WEBB
Ah! The start of the new year. The new calendar offers so much possibility! A moment of change that seems to come just as we have spent time following traditions and celebrating holidays that have managed to survive. It’s a comforting reminder that while “progress” is relentless, amid the seasonal ebb and flow there are still some things we can rely on. A missed Fed inflation and rates projection, a TFTD that is once again arriving after the end of the year (mea culpa encore), and… a return to the wisdom of Whitney Houston? Read more →

Thoughts From The Divide: Downpayments on a Dream

BY JON WEBB
Buddhist teaching holds that all things are in a constant state of flux, implying that we should be prepared to let go of even our most cherished hopes. The John Burns affordability index seems to confirm this, suggesting that, at least for the time being, the American dream of home ownership is out of reach for new buyers. John Burns’ index includes the costs of a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, amortization, insurance, and property taxes (naturally, it’s in the small print). Read more →

Thoughts From The Divide: Is it safe?

BY JON WEBB
We were very sad to see that Warren Mosler has decided to take an extended break from posting on X. Mr Mosler has helped inform our views about the overall policy stance. Most of all, Mosler was right: tight monetary policy did not stop the economy, and those who bet on that lost. Fiscal was certainly a factor, although reasonable people might debate how much of a factor. But with Fed officials mostly of like mind in thinking it is time to cut rates (see quote above), the question we find ourselves asking is whether it is finally safe to bet against Mosler. Or, to put it another way, “Is the U.S. consumer tapped out?”. Read more →
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