Author: Dee Shore

Sep 13, 2010

Weak retail sales

The latest national numbers for retail sales weren’t encouraging. After adjusting for typical seasonal effects and inflation, retail sales essentially showed no improvement. Why is this important and what does it say about the economy? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden weighs in. 

Sep 10, 2010

Are interest rates flashing recession?

The big question about the economy is whether another recession is coming. Of course, some argue the first recession, which began in 2007, never ended. Can the level of interest rates help us answer the recession question? N.C. State University economist Mike Walden responds. 

Sep 9, 2010

Who’s hiring?

A recent report on the national job picture showed that jobs in the private sector increased by 71,000 in July. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden answers the question, Who… 

Sep 8, 2010

Will the U.S. follow Japan?

Some years ago Japan had a real estate boom and then a bust from which, by many measures, they are yet to recover from. Economists refer to it as the lost decade in Japan. Will the same happen in the United States? North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist Mike Walden explores this question in today's "Economic Perspective." 

Sep 7, 2010

Regional economic outlook

Getting up-to-date economic information is sometimes problematic because it takes time for statistics to be collected and processed. There is a report that tries to speed up the process by basing an economic snapshot on interviews with business people. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains what this report says about our economy here in the Southeast. 

Sep 6, 2010

The value of sports teams

Sports fans look at the teams they follow in the terms of wins and losses, but the teams are also a business -- so looking at teams in the terms of dollars and cents is also important. N.C. Cooperative Extension economist Mike Walden discusses the value of prominent professional sports teams. 

Sep 3, 2010

Northeast Ag Expo gives producers a glimpse of farming’s future

More than 200 farmers, scientists, crop advisers and others came out under a sweltering summer sun for an event with roots deep within agriculture’s past and with branches reaching far into farming’s future. This year, planners of the Northeast Ag Expo joined with those of N.C. State University’s Precision Agriculture Field Day to put together a Gates County event that focused on cotton and high-tech farming. 

Sep 3, 2010

Could it have been worse?

Two well-respected economists recently issued a report arguing that the recession would have been much worse had it not been for the actions and interventions of the federal government. N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains what the report says about how bad it could have been.