South By North Strategies, Ltd.

Around The Dial – March 1

Economic policy reports, blog postings, and media stories of interest:

• Jeffrey Sachs looks at need vs. greed.
• Economix looks at the latest data on personal income.
• The Washington Post reports on the job losses caused by budget cuts.
• Free Exchange asks if the people should move to the growth.

Steadily Less Taxing

The blog of The PBS News Hour points out that the top marginal federal tax rate is at a historically low level.

South Atlantic Manufacturing Activity: Feb.

From the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s latest survey of manufacturing activity in the South Atlantic (District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia):

Manufacturing activity in the central Atlantic region expanded for the fifth straight month, according to the Richmond Fed’s latest survey. All broad indicators — shipments, new orders and employment — posted solid gains. Other indicators also suggested stronger activity. District contacts reported that backlogs grew at a quicker pace and that growth in capacity utilization was virtually unchanged. Manufacturers reported that delivery times and finished goods inventories grew at a somewhat higher rate.
…
Looking ahead, manufacturers in February were more optimistic about their future prospects. Respondents at an increasing number of firms looked for rapid growth in shipments, new orders, backlog of orders, capacity utilization, employment, and the average workweek in the next six months.

Around The Dial – Feb. 28

Economic policy reports, blog postings, and media stories of interest:

• Paul Krugman doesn’t see “a Texas miracle.”
• Fed Watch thinks about “a commodity shock.”
• Rortybomb mulls the consequences of trade with China.
• The New York Times reports on the Wake Co. school system.
• Slate looks at “sexual economics.”

Income Inequality In Pictures

From a set of charts about income and wealth inequality posted on the Web site of the magazine Mother Jones …