Economic Digest

12 Scary Debt Facts for 2012

As President Obama unveiled the 2013 fiscal year budget, the nation's financial situation came back into sharp focus. Experts say partisan gridlock in Washington means the budget will probably go nowhere. Read more ...

Who Benefits From the Safety Net

New York Times - A new analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities underscores that the poor are no longer the primary beneficiaries of the government safety net. Benefits now flow primarily to the middle class. Read more ...

The Volcker Rule and the Costs of Good Intentions

New York Times - The Volcker Rule may make sense for the long-term stability of the banking system. But to pretend that it is without significant costs, at least here and now, is disingenuous. The rule may be the right thing to do, but let’s admit the truth: it won’t be cheap. Read more ...

Economic Reports for the Week Ahead

ECONOMIC REPORTS Data will include retail sales for January, import prices for January and business inventories for December (Tuesday); industrial production for January (Wednesday); weekly jobless claims, the Producer Price Index for January, housing starts for January and the Philadelphia Fed index (Thursday); and the Consumer Price Index for January and leading economic indicators for January (Friday).

State commission says immigrants improve Maryland economy

Maryland Reporter - Immigrants – both legal and unauthorized – have made positive contributions to Maryland in terms of the economy and education, and the state needs to take a common-sense approach to future policy, according to a new report from a state commission on immigration. Read more ...