Economy
Agriculture
Farmer’s share of the grocery dollar shrinks again
Almost everything from the price of a dinner out to the cost to heat one’s home seems to take a bigger chunk out of the wallet lately. According to the Consumer Price Index, the overall cost of goods rose 2.4 percent in January. Even as grocery store prices rose, the ...
Blog
California Is Falling Behind On Jobs: Can It Move Beyond The Crossroads?
While the state has become known for its mounting troubles, at least the California economy is growing. But all isn’t as well as it might seem. When compared the rest of the country, California’s jobs market is one of the weakest. Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics show California’s total employment ...
Blog
We Should Call February 20th Tariff Liberation Day
This decision will limit one of the Administration’s major anti-growth policies. The immediate benefits will be muted because, also as expected, President Trump is pushing alternate ways to try and raise tariffs. He has announced, under another statute, that he has imposed an across-the-board 15 percent global tariff. The catch ...
Blog
Price controls won’t save credit card borrowers
Americans are drowning in credit card debt, but President Donald Trump’s suggestion to cap interest rates at 10% for one year is not a particularly good solution. On its face, it sounds great. Americans largely hate banks and Trump’s suggestion gives the Robinhoodish illusion of robbing the rich to give to the ...
Blog
Does California Need Billionaires?
If supporters are able to rack up 874 ,641 signatures, the 2026 Billionaire Tax Act will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. Should it pass, it will levy “a one-time 5% tax on billionaire wealth.” Rather than waiting until voters make their decision, a few billionaires have already left California, including PayPal and ...
Blog
Despite Newsom’s Claims, California is One of America’s Least Fiscally Stable States
Earlier this month, an optimistic Newsom claimed while presenting his latest proposed budget that it ‘reflect(ed) both confidence and caution,’ but if the state’s past performances are anything to go by, then Californians should be wary. The National Association of State Budget Officers’ (NASBO) latest Fiscal Survey of States shows ...
Blog
Tough Times Ahead for California in 2026
But he won’t be alone. Difficult times are ahead for all Californians. According to Indian government data, that country’s GDP has reached $4.18 trillion in U.S. dollars. By 2030, India’s GDP is projected to be $7.3 trillion. The most recent numbers from the International Monetary Fund, posted in April 2025, has California at $4.1 trillion. The UCLA Anderson School ...
Business & Economics
Competition Begets Better Banking Data Than Regulation
As it works to determine how to safeguard the sharing of and access to consumer financial data, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) faces a clear choice. It can allow market-based frameworks developed by the private sector to continue evolving, stepping in only where genuine gaps or abuses emerge. Or ...
Blog
Forget the Trade Deficit, Growing Imports Are a Bullish Sign for the Economy
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) just released its monthly report on international trade in goods and services for August 2025. Based on the news coverage, it would seem that the 23.8 percent decline in the trade deficit was the most important takeaway. And this decline is surely viewed as ...
Business & Economics
Consumers Benefit When Mergers Create Stronger Competitors
Kimberly-Clark is betting $40 billion that, despite the HHS Secretary’s unwarranted accusations about Tylenol, purchasing Kenvue will create synergies that will turn the combined company into a stronger competitor in the consumer health and consumer products sectors. Regardless of whether these gains are ultimately achieved, it is important that they are given the opportunity ...
Farmer’s share of the grocery dollar shrinks again
Almost everything from the price of a dinner out to the cost to heat one’s home seems to take a bigger chunk out of the wallet lately. According to the Consumer Price Index, the overall cost of goods rose 2.4 percent in January. Even as grocery store prices rose, the ...
California Is Falling Behind On Jobs: Can It Move Beyond The Crossroads?
While the state has become known for its mounting troubles, at least the California economy is growing. But all isn’t as well as it might seem. When compared the rest of the country, California’s jobs market is one of the weakest. Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics show California’s total employment ...
We Should Call February 20th Tariff Liberation Day
This decision will limit one of the Administration’s major anti-growth policies. The immediate benefits will be muted because, also as expected, President Trump is pushing alternate ways to try and raise tariffs. He has announced, under another statute, that he has imposed an across-the-board 15 percent global tariff. The catch ...
Price controls won’t save credit card borrowers
Americans are drowning in credit card debt, but President Donald Trump’s suggestion to cap interest rates at 10% for one year is not a particularly good solution. On its face, it sounds great. Americans largely hate banks and Trump’s suggestion gives the Robinhoodish illusion of robbing the rich to give to the ...
Does California Need Billionaires?
If supporters are able to rack up 874 ,641 signatures, the 2026 Billionaire Tax Act will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. Should it pass, it will levy “a one-time 5% tax on billionaire wealth.” Rather than waiting until voters make their decision, a few billionaires have already left California, including PayPal and ...
Despite Newsom’s Claims, California is One of America’s Least Fiscally Stable States
Earlier this month, an optimistic Newsom claimed while presenting his latest proposed budget that it ‘reflect(ed) both confidence and caution,’ but if the state’s past performances are anything to go by, then Californians should be wary. The National Association of State Budget Officers’ (NASBO) latest Fiscal Survey of States shows ...
Tough Times Ahead for California in 2026
But he won’t be alone. Difficult times are ahead for all Californians. According to Indian government data, that country’s GDP has reached $4.18 trillion in U.S. dollars. By 2030, India’s GDP is projected to be $7.3 trillion. The most recent numbers from the International Monetary Fund, posted in April 2025, has California at $4.1 trillion. The UCLA Anderson School ...
Competition Begets Better Banking Data Than Regulation
As it works to determine how to safeguard the sharing of and access to consumer financial data, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) faces a clear choice. It can allow market-based frameworks developed by the private sector to continue evolving, stepping in only where genuine gaps or abuses emerge. Or ...
Forget the Trade Deficit, Growing Imports Are a Bullish Sign for the Economy
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) just released its monthly report on international trade in goods and services for August 2025. Based on the news coverage, it would seem that the 23.8 percent decline in the trade deficit was the most important takeaway. And this decline is surely viewed as ...
Consumers Benefit When Mergers Create Stronger Competitors
Kimberly-Clark is betting $40 billion that, despite the HHS Secretary’s unwarranted accusations about Tylenol, purchasing Kenvue will create synergies that will turn the combined company into a stronger competitor in the consumer health and consumer products sectors. Regardless of whether these gains are ultimately achieved, it is important that they are given the opportunity ...