Paul Davidson

Housing Outlook Brightens Despite Higher Rates

• ORIGINAL (5 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Mark Ashby

The housing market is expected to pick up moderately next year on steady job and income growth and an easing supply crunch, but rising mortgage rates are likely to temper the gains, economists say.

"Housing Outlook Brightens Despite Higher Rates" is from the January 01, 2017 Money section of USA Today. It was written by Paul Davidson and narrated by Mark Ashby.

Out of Work for Six Months or More? Here's Why You Can't Find a Job.

• ORIGINAL (5 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Mark Ashby

The tightening job market that the Labor Department portrayed last week has delivered only limited benefits to one group: the long-term unemployed. The number of people jobless six months or more may have fallen by 25,000 to 1.8 million in December and is down from 6.8 million in 2010. Yet they still represent a quarter of all those unemployed, about the same as a year ago and up from 18% before the recession began in late 2007.

"Out of Work for Six Months or More? Here's Why You Can't Find a Job." is from the January 08, 2017 Money section of USA Today. It was written by Paul Davidson and narrated by Mark Ashby.

Your Groceries May Be Cheaper, but Farmers and Supermarkets Feel the Pain

• ORIGINAL (5 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Paige McKinney

If you’re just a little irked that gasoline prices have edged up recently, maybe this will cheer you up: Groceries are a bargain.

House Flipping Is on the Rebound — and That's Not Good for Everyone

• ORIGINAL (2 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Mark Ashby

Flipping, defined as the sale of a home at least twice within a year, made up 6.1% of all home sales in 2016, up from 5.3% the previous year and the highest level since 2006, real estate research firm Trulia says in a new report.

"House Flipping Is on the Rebound — and That's Not Good for Everyone" is from the January 25, 2017 Money section of USA Today. It was written by Paul Davidson and narrated by Mark Ashby.

Struggle Over the Keynesian Heritage: Neoclassical Synthesists vs. the Post Keynesians

• UNABRIDGED (2 hrs and 18 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Louis Rukeyser

Since World War II, economists have struggled to understand the Keynesian Revolution and to apply its lessons to the modern economy. The heart of the debate over Keynes' radical ideas has been whether they could or should be reconciled with the older, neoclassical economic theory.

Was Obama a Good Jobs President?

• ORIGINAL (7 mins)
• By Paul Davidson, Roger Yu
• Narrated By Paige McKinney

Much like a baseball player’s runs batted in or a company’s earnings, the number of jobs created during a president’s tenure is the vital statistic etched in memory decades later. Bill Clinton? 23 million. Ronald Reagan? 16 million.

"Was Obama a Good Jobs President?" is from the January 20, 2017 Money section of USA Today. It was written by Paul Davidson and Roger Yu and narrated by Paige McKinney.

What a Fed Rate Hike Means for You (Get Ready to Pay More)

• ORIGINAL (5 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Mark Ashby

The Federal Reserve’s decision Wednesday to lift its benchmark short-term interest rate by a quarter percentage point is likely to have a domino effect across the economy as it gently pushes up rates for everything from mortgages and credit card rates to small business loans.

Trump's Trade Talk Breeds Worry Among U.S. Firms

• ORIGINAL (7 mins)
• By Paul Davidson, Roger Yu
• Narrated By Mark Ashby

For Dave Shogren, Donald Trump’s campaign-trail threats to impose massive tariffs on imports from China and Mexico were more than just vote-rousing bluster.

Mnuchin Expects 'Significant' Tax Reform by August

• ORIGINAL (3 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Paige McKinney

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday the Trump administration aims to pass “significant” tax reform, including tax cuts for middle-class Americans, by August but it will likely be late next year before the changes juice economic growth.

"Mnuchin Expects 'Significant' Tax Reform by August" is from the February 23, 2017 Money section of USA Today. It was written by Paul Davidson and narrated by Paige McKinney.

Older Workers Feel on Track for Retirement. Are They?

• ORIGINAL (6 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Mark Ashby

Buoyed by record-high stocks and nearly eight years removed from the Great Recession, most middle-aged and older Americans say they’re at least somewhat prepared for retirement.

"Older Workers Feel on Track for Retirement. Are They?" is from the January 31, 2017 Money section of USA Today. It was written by Paul Davidson and narrated by Mark Ashby.

Loans Are Getting Harder to Come By for Some Consumers

• ORIGINAL (3 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Mark Ashby

Banks are getting more picky about which consumers they're approving for loans as borrowers with spottier credit histories struggle to keep up with payments.

"Loans Are Getting Harder to Come By for Some Consumers" is from the February 12, 2017 Money section of USA Today. It was written by Paul Davidson and narrated by Mark Ashby.

Employers Added Solid 178,000 Jobs in Nov.

• ORIGINAL (5 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Paige McKinney

The labor market perked up modestly in November as employers added 178,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to a nine-year low, providing more evidence of a solid economy in the final payroll report before an expected Federal Reserve interest rate hike.

What Led Fed to Bump up Rate-Hike Forecast?

• ORIGINAL (3 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Mark Ashby

The Federal Reserve tossed some cold water on the recent market rally a few weeks ago when it not only raised interest rates as expected but forecast three rate hikes in 2017 instead of the two moves anticipated. 

"What Led Fed to Bump up Rate-Hike Forecast?" is from the January 02, 2017 Money section of USA Today. It was written by Paul Davidson and narrated by Mark Ashby.

Fed: Low Unemployment, Trump Fiscal Stimulus Could Speed Rate Hikes

• ORIGINAL (3 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Mark Ashby

Federal Reserve policymakers said last month they might have to raise interest rates faster than anticipated to prevent rapidly falling unemployment from fueling excessive inflation, according to minutes of the Fed’s December 13-14 meeting.

"Fed: Low Unemployment, Trump Fiscal Stimulus Could Speed Rate Hikes" is from the January 04, 2017 Money section of USA Today. It was written by Paul Davidson and narrated by Mark Ashby.

Can Trump Make 'Trickle-Down' Economics Work?

• ORIGINAL (4 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Paige McKinney

If 1981 hits such as "Endless Love" and "Bette Davis Eyes" are suddenly bubbling to mind, it may be that Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential race evokes images of Republican predecessor Ronald Reagan, if you’re of a certain age. His win is resuscitating the decades-old debate over whether the supply-side — derided by Democrats as “trickle-down” — tax policy Reagan championed can jump-start the listless U.S. economy.

Fischer: Case for Gradual Rate Hikes 'Quite Strong'

• ORIGINAL (2 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Paige McKinney

Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said Friday the case for raising interest rates gradually “is quite strong,” providing no sign the central bank’s tentative plan to act next month has been pushed back by Republican Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential race.

Yellen: Trump Plan May Stoke Inflation, Debt

• ORIGINAL (4 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Paige McKinney

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen warned Congress on Thursday that big government spending — similar to President-elect Donald Trump's proposals — would fuel inflation and swell the national debt.

Employers Add Modest 161,000 Jobs in Oct. But Wage Growth Surges

• ORIGINAL (5 mins)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Paige McKinney

The economy added a modest 161,000 jobs last month, according to the final employment report before the presidential election, but wage growth accelerated, strengthening the Federal Reserve's case for an interest rate hike next month.

Is the Economy Set for a Rebound?

• ORIGINAL (1 min)
• By Paul Davidson
• Narrated By Paige McKinney

The economy has been in the doldrums since late last year, but a report this week should show growth accelerated in the third quarter, setting up a better outlook for the second half of 2016.