Paulitical Economy™

US booze companies see impact from tariffs. First positive and then negative. Nike has not grown its sales for seven straight quarters. And just experienced its largest sales decline so far. Cocoa bean prices are very volatile and near historic highs. A look at the world’s largest chocolate manufacturer. Hershey sales are suffering. As is its profitability as the high cocoa bean price bite. A look...

Florida is one of the weakest housing markets in America. But prices are still sky-high compared to pre-COVID Nationally, sellers outnumber buyers by half a million. Prices are falling in some areas, but even with prices falling many will remain priced out of the housing market. America’s largest home builder’s sales are accelerating downward. The issue is affordability constraints, but it’s not a...

Carnival continues to ride the wave of higher prices. General Mills sales are declining But would be a lot worse if not for their pet business. Yet, JM Smucker’s pet division had a double-digit sales decline. And a look back. Airliner JetBlue is seeing declines in air travel. Its share price has been a 25-year disaster. Student loan delinquencies in the US are soaring. And government workers have...

Campbell’s Soup sales are back in positive territory.  Restaurants getting so expensive people are eating more at home.  But not eating as many snacks.  Hudson’s Bay is being liquidated.  But its brands will live on.  The percentage of first-time home buyers in the US has plummeted.  It’s a result of deliberate policy.  The alcohol industry is still struggling.  Brown Forman, maker of Jack Daniel’...

The producers of alcoholic beverages say that the health concerns related to alcohol consumption are exaggerated. I hope so. Shoppers continue to flock to Costco. And investors to its common stock. Target, not so much. Home furnishings sales are down over 8%. In Financial Ructions: We look at a speech that John F. Kennedy made to the Economic Club of New York in 1962. Income taxes were finally bei...

Truck maker Paccar sales continue to fall. Freight shipments in the US are still down. A look at how tariffs impact trade: Lobsters. Petrol cars may not be going the way of the Dodo in California  after all. Both Home Depot and Lowe’s broke eight quarter losing streaks at the end of 2024 with sales finally back in positive territory. It only lasted a quarter. Inflation in Canada is rising again. O...