Manufacturing Struggles

 

And just weeks ago, manufacturing was one of the few bright spots!
It's interesting also to note that while construction spending climbed, sales have been weak in the housing market. Home mortgage defaults climbed 66% year over year. 

Economic Data Declines Even As Stocks Rise

From Jim Quinn of the Burning Platform blog:

"Investors are now facing the second most extreme episode of equity market overvaluation in U.S. history (current valuations on similar measures already exceed those of 1929). The belief that zero interest rates offer no alternative but to accept risk in stocks is valid only if one believes that stocks cannot experience profoundly negative returns. We know precisely how similar valuation extremes have worked out for investors over the completion of the market cycle, and those outcomes have never been deferred indefinitely. The only question at present is how many grains are left in the hourglass."

The employment situation continues to deteriorate on a daily basis as Challenger, Grey & Christmas has reported layoff announcements by major corporations in 2015 that already exceed the total announcements in 2014. This is the reality versus the BLS 5.1% unemployment rate fantasy. Retail sales, which make up two thirds of the economy, are putrid and confirm the dreadful employment market. Corporate profits among S&P 500 companies have fallen for two straight quarters and are picking up steam in a negative direction, as accounting shenanigans cannot disguise falling revenue forever. Earnings per share estimates for future quarters fall on a daily basis.

Every manufacturing and services survey flash recession warning. Despite propaganda from the NAR, government and the MSM, the housing market is dead in the water. Major home builders continue to report declining orders as new home sales are plummeting and existing home sales, without NAR adjustments, show a negative trend.

Our Prevaricator Speaker of the House

Buckling Boehner is a bold-faced liar!

Saying that we have to incur MORE debt in order to pay existing debt is like saying that someone can't pay their current credit card bill without an increase in their credit limit. It's absurdly false on the face of it! We could pay existing debt from current revenue. That would NOT require a default. It WOULD require cuts in spending! But Boehner wouldn't hear of that!

Boehner is a primo prevaricator, just like the current US President! And Paul Ryan will be no better! The GOP has sold us out once again!

Bad News Is Good News -- Again!

-- Bloomberg News' Richard Breslow, 

FX trader and fund manager

 "The economic numbers released yesterday can best be described with a reference to wheels falling off the bus. And it wasn’t just retail sales and PPI in the U.S. but numbers from around the world, including China. So, of course, when I woke up this morning the obvious first question to ask was, how much are equities up?" -- Bloomberg News' Richard Breslow, FX trader and fund manager

It used to be that the stock market traded higher or lower based upon corporate earnings and the economic news. Now, those things are irrelevant. All that matters now is what the central bankers are saying they're going to do today. One hedge fund manager recently stated, "There is no market, just interventions."

Was Yesterday the Game Changer?

Stocks were down 280, but have rallied 100 points in the past hour.

Obama's Fauxcovery!

Obama's fauxcovery! Nine charts that prove the failure of Obama! It's mirage economics!

The Central Banker's Roller Coaster

GDP was revised higher today, but mostly due to inventory builds. Not good!

It's the Debt, Stupid!

Central Bank Emperors Have No Clothes!

RBS' Alberto Gallo,

"Policymakers responded to the financial crisis with easy monetary policy and low interest rates. The critics — including us — argued against 'solving a debt crisis with more debt.' Put differently, we said that QE was necessary, but not sufficient for a recovery. We are now coming to the moment of reckoning: central bankers look naked, and markets have nothing else to believe in."

When Do We See the Consequences?

After being up 350 points today, the Dow closed down 200 points instead. When will we begin to see the consequences? When will a Bear Stearns collapse again? When will be the Lehman Bros moment?

Today's collapse:

The Dow has lost about 2500 points since late July!

Do Bubbles Burst? Yes!

I believe we'll see a bounce back soon, but this is only the opening salvo. All bubbles burst! There has never been a financial bubble that didn't eventually burst! There is another major financial crisis brewing. It will be an even bigger one! "You ain't seen nothin' yet!" Eventually, we'll see a US government fiscal crisis too! And both political parties will be responsible!

Ouch! Recession Warning!

S&P 500 is now negative for the year! And this morning, filings for unemployment increased four consecutive weeks, for the first time in five years!

St Louis Fed Admits QE Failure, at Cost of Doubling the Debt!

What More Need Be Said?

Stocks leaped more than 240 points today. China announced that they will engage in quantitative easing, just and Japan, Europe, and the US have done! Meanwhile, earnings reports were "downbeat".

Our Mirage Economy! A House of Cards!

Following headlines like these...

 we get stock market reactions like this:

Why? Wall St have become so addicted to injections of money from central bankers, that they now dismiss all risk! Their faith in the false gods of central bankers, that they don't care about real, robust, organic economic growth any more! It's the reaction of an addict!

Treasuries Scream "Fear!"

Despite reassurances from the Fed, the skyrocketing Treasury bond market is sending the message that investors are extremely worried. They're buying US government bonds as if there's no tomorrow. That means only one thing: they're worried!

Even as the Fed talks about possibly raising interest rates, investors don't believe they will. They're buying bonds, which lowers interest rates. That means that their fears outweigh what the Fed is saying!

Jobs Propaganda!

Dreadful Jobs Report Sends Stocks Higher!

What is wrong with this picture? 

And yet stocks leaped higher following this news!

What More Need Be Said?

Housing Bubble Defined

These homebuilders are shooting themselves in the foot! They'll build more and more homes just as the economy begins to sink! And the Fed is expected to begin raising interest rates when they meet Tuesday and Wednesday this week! What impact will higher interest rates have on housing, both sales and affordability?! Well imagine that -- another housing bubble, right before our very eyes! POP goes the bubble!

Do These Headlines Today Look Like Prosperity To You?

In a robust economy with strong demand, this would never be the case::