Cue the latest economic (and Phillips curve) paradox.
On one hand, the US unemployment rate is at a 16 year low of 4.4%, suggesting little if any slack in the US economy, and according to anecdotes from both the Fed's Beige Book and industry sources, labor shortages are so acute that - if one believes the recently discussed report from the NAHB - up to 75% of builders are unable to find construction workers.
As we reported last month, a Wisconsin company called Three Square Market has become the first company in the US to offer microchip implants to its employees. The firm, which designs software for breakroom markets, wants employees to use microchips to help facilitate vending-machine payments. The firm wanted to use its employees as test subjects for their product. And though the program was strictly voluntary, it marks an uncomfortable beginning of a trend that could someday result in all humans being involuntarily microchipped.
$700 million...
That’s the total projected cost to the American economy in lost productivity as workers head outside to watch next week’s solar eclipse, according to Chicago executive-outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas.
Here's Reuters:
Via StockBoardAsset.com,
Baltimore’s homeless have erected a modern day ‘Hooverville’, or better yet a ‘Trumpville’ on the front lawn of Baltimore’s City Hall.
The tent city demands are the following:
Via The Daily Bell