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Election-Year Economics. A Look at the Pocketbook Issues of 2004 C. Tannenbaum Chief Economist. “It’s the economy, stupid!”. -- Bill Clinton, 1992. Trends in U.S. GDP. Quarterly Change, Annualized. “Potential”. Year over Year Change in Retail Sales Excluding Food and Autos.
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Election-Year Economics A Look at the Pocketbook Issues of 2004 C. Tannenbaum Chief Economist
“It’s the economy, stupid!” -- Bill Clinton, 1992
Trends in U.S. GDP Quarterly Change, Annualized “Potential”
Year over Year Change in Retail SalesExcluding Food and Autos
Key Concerns • The Employment Puzzle
Non-Farm PayrollsYear-Over-Year Change Source: BLS
Unemployment and Labor Force Participation Percent Rate
The $100 Million Question: Why hasn’t hiring picked up?
Cost of Health Care Benefits As a Percent of Total Hourly Compensation Source: BLS
Hourly Wages for Selected Occupations, U.S. vs. India Source: Bardhan and Kroll, Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics, UC Berkeley
Productivity Source: BEA
Initial Jobless Claims Source: BLS
Key Concerns • The Employment Puzzle • Deepening Deficits
Deficit and Surpluses as Percent of GDP Source: OMB
The Boom is Coming The Future of Social Security Source: Social Security Trustees Report
Yield CurveU.S. Treasury Securities • Rates are at risk if the deficit persists
Housing: Still A Bright Spot U.S. Home Sales • Sales and starts are holding up • Mortgage rates are still reasonable • Carry over spending to come Millions of Units
Sustaining Investment • Diversification is Essential • Reinforcing the Public Trust • Maintaining a Balanced Tax Posture
Key Concerns • The Employment Puzzle • Deepening Deficits • How Free is Free Trade?
Brother, Can You Spare the Dollar? • A weaker currency makes it easier to export • One notable exception: China • How long can this last? Dollars per Euro
Thoughts on Trade • Weak foreign economies limit demand for U.S. products • Protectionist measures will lead to retaliation • Who’s responsible for the shift of production and jobs? We are!
Closing Thoughts • The remainder of the year should see good economic performance • The risk of underachievement is rising • The election looks like a real horse race!
“If the economy doesn’t improve, you’re fired!” -- Carl Tannenbaum’s boss, 2004
Election-Year Economics A Look at the Pocketbook Issues of 2004 C. Tannenbaum Chief Economist