Notable Pop in Motor Vehicle and Parts Production

Friday’s 1.1 percent jump in industrial production is an indication of the long-awaited convergence of recently more upbeat survey data. All major categories were higher as well, notable was the 3.9 percent pop in motor vehicle and parts production.

US Raw Steel Production Increased

US raw steel production increased a modest 0.7 percent last week as mills operated at an ACUR of 78.3 percent. In the corresponding week last year mills operated at an ACUR of 73.6 percent. Thus far this year mills have produced just over 19,000,000 tons compared to just under 19,000,000 tons produced in the like period last year.

Short Term Interest Rates Raised

On Wednesday the Federal Reserve raised short term interest rates by .25 percentage point, anticipating 2 or 3 more increases this year as the economy continues to improve.

February 2018 Leading Economic Index (LEI) Reports Index Increased

The Conference Board released its February 2018 Leading Economic Index (LEI) and reports the index increased 0.6 percent in the month, a better than expected showing and consistent with the official statement released by the Fed on Wednesday afternoon. The LEI has not posted a decline in over a year and a half.

The US Census Bureau Monthly Advance Report on Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders for February 2018

• New orders for manufactured durable goods in February increased 3.1 percent. This increase, up three of the last four months, followed a 3.5 percent January increase.
• Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, up nine of the last ten months, increased 0.9 percent, following a 0.5 percent January increase.
• Inventories of manufactured durable goods in February, up nineteen of the last twenty months, increased 0.4 percent, following a 0.4 percent January increase.

Omnibus Spending Bill

The omnibus spending bill is a fucking joke. Is everyone a leftist now? $80 billion more for defense spending…good, and much needed. The Republicans rolled over and gave an additional $63 billion to the Democrats for “domestic programs” …i.e….entitlement spending. Not good. Then the swamp left for a two week vacation. That’s all these creeps do, vacation. Nothing for DACA, a pittance for border security. The president should veto this wad of toilet paper, 2,200 pages of nonsense. We have majorities in the House and the Senate, but it appears the Dems are running the show.

The President did threaten to veto the bill this morning but caved in the afternoon in the interest of national security-to secure military funding…blah!!

Come On Spring!

The Vernal Equinox (the start of the spring season) began at 12:15pm EST on Tuesday March 20. I wish it would get here already. Cleveland has been about 10 degrees below average temps for this time of year, in fact, March has been colder than February in these parts…and we got hit with 4″ of snow overnight.

Infrastructure X (Keystone & Dakota pipelines) Regulation Reform XX 1 in 2 out
Individual Tax Reform XX Entitlement Reform
Business Tax Reform XX Education Reform X
Healthcare Reform Veterans Administration Reform X
Rebuild our Military X Trade Reform X
Secure our Borders (The Wall) XX Lead the world from the front XX
Help for the poor XX Drain the swamp X as we speak
Peace through unmatchable strength Support Israel X
Destroy ISIS XX Extreme Vetting XX
Conservative Supreme Court nominees XX American Jobs XX

I will track these campaign promises and will check them off as each is accomplished adding those I have missed as they become apparent. This is quite an agenda and will be difficult to achieve all in one term but I believe the American people are behind him and know these things need to be done. Now, if he can get our legislators to support him instead of fighting him….

“MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”

Have a great weekend…. God bless America!

Buy American made products whenever you can, it’s good for you, good for your friends and neighbors and good for our country.

If you are hiring…try to hire a veteran…. they are loyal, disciplined, hardworking…and they deserve our support.

By the way, if you wish to comment on my rants or offer any other insights you may have, you are encouraged to email me.

TEDDY ROOSEVELT ON IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA…1907

In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag…We have room for but one language here and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”