Atlanta Constitution column-December 29, 2004

Now is the time to lay out my outlook on which I will grade myself at the end of the year. 

 

Atlanta Constitution column-December 22, 2004

The Christmas sales are not yet finished, as those gift cards need to be converted to purchases in the next few weeks.  Also, economic data have not yet measured the full impact of economic activity in 2004. 

 

Atlanta Constitution column-December 15, 2004

In 1994, Congressman Newt Gingrich’s Contract with
America had a plank that endorsed a constitutional amendment to require federal government budgets to be balanced.  Ten year’s later, the President of the
United States virtually is guaranteeing that he will use debt to meet unbalanced cash flow needs in the social security system as he begins transferring retirement responsibility from the government to individuals. 

 

Atlanta Constitution column-December 8, 2004

While driving my daughter to a musical event recently, I asked what she was reading in literature.  She related the story of a poor family that found its way to FAO Schwartz (presumably before its bankruptcy) and marveled at all the expensive toys.  One family child thought that the thousand dollars for a single toy could feed their entire family for a year. 

 

Atlanta Constitution column-December 1, 2004

A year ago, most oil experts thought oil prices would average less than $30 per barrel in 2004.  In fact, OPEC actually curtailed production early in the year to absorb what they thought would be an oil surplus. 

No surplus ever materialized.