Eric Lotke

Today’s “Productivity and Costs” data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics contain what looks like good news. But keep the cork in the bottles.

President Barack Obama announced today $3.4 billion in government grants to help build a "smart" electric grid. Like many Obama initiatives, it’s a smart first step. But much more is needed and one piece is rarely mentioned at all.

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke recognized today that America’s trade deficit played a central role in the global economic crisis. Then after he recognized the problem, he went on to solve a different one.

The American people didn’t bail out banks that were too big to fail so they could take over banks that were smaller and did.

New public opinion research by the Economic Policy Institute contains reassuring findings. The American people are smarter than they sometimes look on TV.

The forum on American debt and deficit had it right. First, don’t panic. Don’t stop the stimulus spending or raise taxes with the economy still near the bottom.

The G-20 Summit is wrapping up today. We can compare its performance to promises made in advance. Leaders discussed financial markets, of course, but they also made promises about jobs and work. Some highlights:

Source: BEA

Today is the first day of the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh. Because the G-20 nations represent 80 percent of world trade, it makes sense to look at America’s position within it. The above chart shows our trade balances with respect to the G-20 nations. Specific numbers are below.

Today’s “Productivity and Costs” data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics contain what looks like good news. But keep the cork in the bottles.

President Barack Obama announced today $3.4 billion in government grants to help build a "smart" electric grid. Like many Obama initiatives, it’s a smart first step. But much more is needed and one piece is rarely mentioned at all.

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke recognized today that America’s trade deficit played a central role in the global economic crisis. Then after he recognized the problem, he went on to solve a different one.

The American people didn’t bail out banks that were too big to fail so they could take over banks that were smaller and did.

New public opinion research by the Economic Policy Institute contains reassuring findings. The American people are smarter than they sometimes look on TV.

The forum on American debt and deficit had it right. First, don’t panic. Don’t stop the stimulus spending or raise taxes with the economy still near the bottom.

The G-20 Summit is wrapping up today. We can compare its performance to promises made in advance. Leaders discussed financial markets, of course, but they also made promises about jobs and work. Some highlights:

Source: BEA

Today is the first day of the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh. Because the G-20 nations represent 80 percent of world trade, it makes sense to look at America’s position within it. The above chart shows our trade balances with respect to the G-20 nations. Specific numbers are below.