“Economy” on The Daily Caller

For a sitting congressman, there are few things worse than being advised what to do by a “former.” So, it is in this spirit that I tread cautiously on the most important issues now in front of the House and Senate. (more)

Team Obama is out and about mourning a “double-dip recession,” while Fed head Ben Bernanke is warning of a faltering economy. I have described the current economic environment as the front end of a recession. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The jobs crisis isn’t getting worse. But it isn’t getting much better, either. (more)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Starbucks hopes customers will be willing to pay at least $5 more when they stop in for their morning cup of Joe. (more)

The golden goodbye has not gone away.

Just last week, Léo Apotheker was shown the door after a tumultuous 11-month run atop Hewlett-Packard . His reward? $13.2 million in cash and
stock severance, in addition to a sign-on package worth about $10 million, according to a corporate filing on Thursday.
At the end of August, Robert P. Kelly was handed severance worth $17.2 million in cash and stock when he was ousted as chief executive of Bank of
New York Mellon after clashing with board members and senior managers. A few days later, Carol A. Bartz took home nearly $10 million from Yahoo
after being fired from the troubled search giant.

A hallmark of the gilded era of just a few short years ago, the eye-popping severance package continues to thrive in spite of the measures put in place
in the wake of the financial crisis to crack down on excessive pay.

Full story: Outsize Severance Continues for Executives Despite Failed Tenures

Have the chances of a compromise on a potential jobs bill in the spirit of bipartisanship greatly diminished after President Barack Obama went on the offensive promoting his jobs bill? According Pat Buchanan they have. (more)

Operation Twist doesn’t give consumers much to shout about. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Reserve is making its third try at stimulating the economy in less than three years. Since its last attempt ended in June, the economy has been slowing. And stocks have been falling as investors feared that the country was heading for another recession. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is running out of options to try to boost a slumping economy and lower unemployment. So policymakers are expected to reach 50 years back into their playbook for their next move. (more)

The debt crisis in Europe has finally, and officially, washed up on American shores. Last week, the mighty Federal Reserve moved to help European banks that have been having trouble finding people who are willing to lend them money. (more)

Albert Einstein once said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results. Obviously, President Obama never knew Albert Einstein. His so-called “jobs plan” and the accompanying legislation he sent to Congress is proof of that. (more)

For months now, there has been a lot of discussion inside the beltway about coming to a “grand bargain” that will solve our nation’s economic woes in one fell swoop. Many look to how we responded during past economic struggles in the hopes that history will be our guide. I’m not sure the answer lies in our past, but history can certainly serve as a starting point in negotiations for members of the so-called Super Committee who recently started their work. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress on Tuesday that new revenue raised from overhauling the tax code and eliminating loopholes should be used to reduce federal deficits, not to lower tax rates. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks drifted between small gains and losses Thursday ahead of speeches on the economy by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and President Barack Obama that will be closely watched on Wall Street. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. factory orders rose strongly in July on the biggest jump in demand for autos in more than eight years and a surge in commercial airplane orders. The increase suggests supply chain disruptions created by the Japan crisis are easing. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people who signed contracts to buy homes fell in July, further evidence that the depressed housing market remains a drag on the economy. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sales of new homes fell for the third straight month in July, a sign that housing remains a drag on the economy. If the current pace continues, 2011 would be the worst year for new-home sales on records dating back at least half a century. (more)

What a difference a couple years make! In 2009, the new president enjoyed political conditions conducive to his domestic agenda. For years, strong pluralities of voters had favored national plans to curb climate change and provide universal health care. However unfairly, free enterprise had taken a beating due to the 2008 financial collapse. Conventional wisdom had long been that Democrats better managed the economy, and Republicans were stronger on national security. Having bungled both, the Bush administration set up the perfect volley for Obama to advance his social democratic program. For his first year, Obama picked economic winners and losers, bailed out industries, appointed tsars to oversee industry, even told a CEO to step down. The economy was his oyster and his Midas touch would bring it back to life. (more)

Employers delaying or suspending hiring. Home buyers getting cold feet. Shoppers pulling back on spending. (more)