Markets and Economy: my few stocks are doing real well, I haven't touched any in months, so I've not been paying much attention to the real engines of the economy: commodities. Gold, one of the main ones, is headed south (down $40) as the dollar roars. The CRB index of commodities, still higher than it's been in most of our lifetimes, is down big time. There is a weak El Nino that is causing some damage to the anchovies off SA (slightly higher fertilizer prices) and the drought relieving rains in the American Southwest have caused all reserviors to be filled to capacity for the first time in five years. Soybeans are down more than $2, cheaper feed costs; corn is down a third which also means cheaper feed costs. China is trying to cool their economy so they will import fewer commodities; copper prices will also come down as the dollar and interest rates go up: cheaper building costs. You all know oil prices are down AS THE DOLLAR GOES UP which means the Arabs lose nothing to falling prices. Again, the dollar slide is OVER as I've posted here many times.
AND BUSH WAS RIGHT, or at least the White House economic prognosticators were right, as 2.3 million new jobs were created in 2004, the highest since the bubble year of 1999. Unemployment could fall as low as 5% or even less. Why? Women are staying home to take care of their children when economically possible due in large part to studies showing the ill effects of "child care" on young children, and probably the emotional need of women to care for their young when they can in spite of feminist cant. Next is the booming economy which is creating jobs and the realization that any monthly job number over 98,000 means job creation and we have been averaging nearly 200,000 per month. Lastly there are kids staying in school (because they can afford to) and earlier retirement (something that is never constant).
It is a sad commentary to note that all this good news is bad news to the Democrats.
Looking way out: Britain will begin to run out of oil in four to five years. This could spell near catastrophe for both England and the world. Look for problems in all economies as the world begins to realize this. The much touted "hybrid engines" for cars only results in about a ten percent reduction in fuel consumption in large vehicles like trucks. Why trucks and not cars? Because the fucking electric motors plus batteries are so goddam heavy that it takes a truck to haul them around efficiently. So far you will note that hybrid cars are small. That's so nobody can get into them and add weight. In addition, the mileage improvement sucks. And it really sucks and sucks. More BS from the envirowhackos.
