December 2010

Dec 31, 2010

The new wealth report

The decline in household wealth during the recession was enormous. Almost $15 trillion dollars in household wealth was lost. How much of a comeback have people made? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden answers. 

Dec 30, 2010

Does diversification work?

Diversification -- or putting your investment eggs in many baskets -- has long been recommended as a core investment principal. But with so much turmoil in recent years in financial markets, does diversification still work? N.C. Cooperative Extension economist Mike Walden responds. 

Dec 29, 2010

One type of debt is down

We all know about the dramatic rise in the national debt in recent years. In prior decades we also witnessed a big jump in private debt held by households. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden says this second type of debt changed directions recently. 

Dec 28, 2010

Are oil prices headed up?

Oil prices and their derivative gas prices have not behaved according to their typical pattern this year. They didn’t rise this summer, as is usual, but now when driving generally falls off, prices are edging up. What’s going on? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains. 

Dec 27, 2010

Measuring price changes

Because there are millions of prices in our economy, it seems that determining how much prices change would be a daunting task. The government has an official measure that is based on a sample of prices. Is there any confirmation of the government’s price changes from methods that are more comprehensive? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden answers. 

Dec 24, 2010

Lost workers

The state’s unemployment rate fell from 9.7 percent to 9.6 percent recently. But there is cause for concern in the state’s most recent job report, says N.C. State University economist Mike Walden. 

Dec 23, 2010

The recession hit N.C. hard

You don’t have to tell North Carolina's unemployed workers how bad the recession has been, but now we have some evidence from the federal government to confirm this. N.C. Cooperative Extension economist explains what the numbers show. 

Dec 22, 2010

YOU DECIDE: Will the economy be better in 2011?

Will the economy be naughty or nice next year? Mike Walden looks ahead and ventures an opinion. 

Dec 22, 2010

What happened to Ireland

Ireland has been in the news recently but not in a good way: The government has been on the verge of bankruptcy, and the rest of Europe may have to bail them out. What happened to this country, which only a few years ago had a very dynamic economy? N.C. Cooperative Extension economist Mike Walden explains. 

Dec 21, 2010

Zublena named to lead N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

Dr. Joe Zublena has been named associate dean for Extension in N.C. State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service effective immediately. Zublena, director of county operations for Cooperative Extension, has served as interim director of the organization since the May 1 retirement of past director Dr. Jon Ort.