Dec 12 With so many consultants and service providers who essentially fly for a living, what is the trade off between efficiency and superior talent pool sourcing? Question/Comment: I just saw your story on the Nov. 29 NewsHour and was curious about the short supply chain advantage in terms of services vs. manufacturing. With so many consultants and service providers who essentially fly for a living, what… Continue reading
Dec 10 I read that the drop of sales in the RV market could signal the possibility of a recession. How? Question/Comment: I read that the drop of sales in the RV market could signal the possibility of a recession. How? Paul Solman: At the simplest level, a drop in the sales of anything could signal a recession. RVs = leisure… Continue reading
Dec 10 Harley Davidson was a success story in your “Rust Belt” series, but I understand that their workers were recently given unpaid leave. How do you reconcile this? Question/Comment: You used Harley Davidson as a success story in your "Rust Belt" series, but I understand that their workers were recently given unpaid leave. How do you reconcile this?Paul Solman: Because the workers still have good-paying jobs. Unpaid… Continue reading
Dec 07 Where do hedge funds get the stock that they [sell] short in the stock market? Question/Comment: Where do hedge funds get the stock that they [sell] short in the stock market? If, as I suspect, they acquire it from the 401(k) accounts of hard-working individuals who rely on the concept of going "long" in the… Continue reading
Dec 07 You seemed disbelieving (in your report on American Manufacturing, which aired on Nov. 29) that a merchant vessel could sink, or that it happens very often. Question/Comment: You seemed disbelieving (in your report on American Manufacturing, which aired on Nov. 29) that a merchant vessel could sink, or that it happens very often. Check out this as one source for information on world marine casualties. Continue reading
Dec 05 What’s up with the stock market? Can we have a bull market and a bear market in different sectors at the same time? Question/Comment: What's up with the stock market? I thought it was supposed to be a leading indicator of economic conditions. But over the last months, the market seems to respond more to interest rate levels in addition to insignificant economic… Continue reading
Dec 05 I was surprised to hear that the Pabst brewery was razed. Do great American beers have any significant presence overseas? Question/Comment: I was surprised to hear on your NewsHour piece that the Pabst brewery was razed. It made me think that in recent years a number of excellent American beers have been produced, some even better than highly touted… Continue reading
Dec 05 Has the “short supply chain” movement has caught on? Question/Comment: I was wondering if the "short supply chain" movement is also a movement into lean production techniques. I know that several companies (e.g., Toyota) have done it for years, but I was interested to know whether it has caught… Continue reading
Nov 28 There seem to be different rates that the Fed raises or lowers. What are they? Question/Comment: Last month, the stock market dived about 380 points in one day, then recovered the same day. That same day, the Fed lowered its rate .5 percent. Now I just heard it's lowering its rate for the first time… Continue reading
Nov 28 Why all the focus on just Fed policy? I’m with Alan Greenspan on also looking at our fiscal policy. By Business Desk Question/Comment: Why all the focus on just Fed policy? I'm with Alan Greenspan on also looking at our fiscal policy. Just lowering interest rates without raising revenues could just lead to more inflation. Thank you. Paul Solman: What Robert is… Continue reading