These Are Dangerous Times

kingworldnews.com / February 14, 2017

On the heels of Janet Yellen’s testimony to Congress, bonds are falling and the dollar is moving higher.  But this is not business as usual because these are dangerous times.

Here is what Peter Boockvar wrote today as the world awaits the next round of monetary madness:  The NFIB small business optimism index held its recent sturdy gains at 105.9 for January vs 105.8 in December. It’s at the best level since December 2004. Plans to Hire rose another 2 pts to 18, the most since before the recession. After spiking by 38 pts last month, those that Expect a Better Economy fell by 2 pts as did those that Expect Higher Sales (after jumping by 20 pts). Those that said it’s a Good Time to Expand rose to the highest since 2004. Compensation plans continued to improve with it matching the best level in 15 years. This is because Positions Not Able To Fill continues to rise to match 15 yr high. Earnings trends are still negative but less so. On inflation, Higher Selling Prices fell 1 pt but holding around 2 yr highs. The disappointment within was the capital spending plans which fell 2 pts to 27 and is back to where it was before the election. Hopefully tax policy will encourage an improvement there.

Bottom line, “Small business owners like what they see so far in Washington” said the NFIB CEO. Bill Dunkelberg added “The continued surge in optimism is a welcome sign that economic growth is coming. The very positive expectations that we see in our data have already begun translating into hiring and spending in the small business sector.” Some key components of this index has gone parabolic since the election and now the rubber meets the road in terms of what policy comes next and the extent taxes can be cut and regulatory relief can be had that would satisfy this optimism…

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