Mark Vitner
Mark Vitner
accounting company markets pension surprising
But pension accounting is awfully complicated and it's an awfully big company, so it's not surprising the markets would get a little spooked by it.
markets rational
Markets are rational and forward-looking. However, they can also be wrong.
boost businesses costs energy fed growth hiking hire hiring interest labor looks markets output rates recent reluctant
The most recent acceleration in productivity growth looks like it was cyclically driven, ... Even with output soaring, many businesses were reluctant to boost hiring because the Fed was hiking interest rates and energy costs were surging. Even if businesses wanted to hire more workers, many could not because the labor markets were so tight.
fed influence markets mouth open supposed
The way the Fed is supposed to influence markets is through an open market policy, but they will also use the open mouth policy,
continues defy demand doom housing quite record remains strong year
It continues to defy all the expectations of doom in the housing market. Demand for housing still remains quite strong and this year will be a record year for single-family construction.
accounts motor overall percent rebound retail rise sales vehicle
A rebound in motor vehicle sales accounts for much of December's 0.7 percent rise in overall retail sales and is also responsible for much of November's upward revision.
increase inflation meaningful numbers pick rent
If we see an increase in rent we could really see inflation numbers pick up in a meaningful way.
federal larger money response spent
The federal response has been much larger than we thought it would be, ... And the money is being spent much more quickly.
coming consumer disaster faster help hit minimize money natural relief
The relief money is coming in much faster than it has for any other natural disaster that I can remember. That should help minimize some of the hit on consumer spending,
breathing fed gives interest room
It gives the Fed a little more breathing room on interest rates, that's the most I can say.
afford billion economy-and-economics finance matter spending trillion whether work
In the end, we can work this out. It is $200 billion in spending for a $12 trillion economy, ... It's just a matter of how we finance it, not whether or not we can afford to do it.
booming correctly economy fix folks maybe roof state stick sunshine
If folks correctly see the economy is booming in Florida, they'll make their way down to the Sunshine State and take a job. Maybe they'll stick around a while and fix a roof while they're here.
earlier gas prices rise usual
I think we'll see gas prices rise earlier than usual and faster.
consumers economy-and-economics fairly holiday season worried
Consumers are fairly worried about the economy. ... I think the holiday season is going to be ho-hum,