The Brian Sullivan Blog

  • November 6, 2009 10:36 AM EST

    Is The Real Unemployment Rate 17.5%?

    The unemployment rate is technically defined by people who are in the labor force - i.e. still looking for a job - but can't find one.   The 10.2% official rate is bad enough, but the real figures may be worse. According to the BLS, the number of 'discouraged workers' rose to 2.4 million.    1.6 million of those have simply given up looking for a job and have not actively looked for work in more than 4 weeks.   As such they are not counted in the unemployment rate. Additionally those who are working part-time but would prefer full-time employment are also not counted in the official number. Add those ... read more

  • November 6, 2009

    Breaking: Unemployment Rate Rises to 10.2%

    Unemployment rate rises to 10.2%, more than expected. Watch for push for "stimulus 2" ... Administration will likely use this to make a drive for more government spending. We need to get manufacturing going again in America and if that requires a "buy American" provision of some kind it is time to give that serious consideration.   We are the only major economic power without a "us first" type provision. ... read more

    Bubble 8 Comments

  • November 5, 2009

    Breaking: Fannie Mae To Rent Back Homes

    This breaking now ... Lot of questions on first glance. 1) Is this a Fannie Mae bailout in disguise?   Fannie selling as help for homeowners, but given Fannie's precarious (and taxpayer owned) financial position, renting homes back may allow Fannie to delay the write downs that are inevitably coming and drag out the hit to what's left of its balance sheet. 2) Does Fannie still have to write down the lost value of home?   There is no way the rents will equal the mortgage payments, resulting in a large reduction of value ... read more

    Bubble 5 Comments

  • November 4, 2009

    Wednesday Stories: Intel Sued; Gold Soars Again; The Dead Vote

    Stories I'm reading this Wednesday... Intel smacked with antitrust lawsuit Fears of a new global bubble Gold, gold, gold ADP report shows continued layoffs Virginia cuts unemployment benefits California stealin' Bill Gates buys more AutoNation While Buffett sells Moody's The "new" Japan Apparently even the dead can vote Toyota latest to pull out of Formula One ... read more

    Bubble 0 Comments

  • November 4, 2009

    Breaking: NY AG Cuomo Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Intel

    Breaking on Intel ... but one wonders what the motivation is for Cuomo to file a lawsuit against a California company and non New York-based computer makers.. -------- New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo filed antitrust charges against Intel Corp. (INTC), alleging the company threatened computer makers and paid huge kickbacks to stop them using competitors' chips. The attorney general alleges Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel violated federal and state antitrust laws, according to a statement released Wednesday. ... read more

    Bubble 0 Comments

about this blog

  • Brian Sullivan joined FOX Business Network (FBN) in April 2008 as an anchor. He co-anchors the 10am-12pm ET hours of the FOX Business block. Prior to joining FBN, Sullivan served as an anchor for Bloomberg Television where he hosted the programs Morning Call and In Focus.

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