Jun 23 What’s the Relationship Between Inflation and Interest Rates? Question: I am confused about the cause/effect relationship between inflation and interest rates. Many economic talking heads claim that interest rates will rise if present monetary policy produces inflation. But the principle of supply and demand suggests that if… Continue reading
Jun 15 Why Is the Cost of Gasoline Increasing? Question: With U.S. oil stocks high and refiners at a low production rate, why is the cost of gasoline increasing at such a high rate? It makes you think that there is more to it than supply and demand. Continue reading
Dec 25 Watch Charities Feel the Pinch During Economic Crisis Charitable groups across the country are feeling the pinch as the economic crisis has frozen people's pocketbooks and slowed rates of charitable giving. Philanthropy executives give an update. Continue watching
Aug 15 How do speculators affect the price of crude oil? Question/Comment: I would like to understand how speculators affect the price of crude oil. I’d like to know who these people are (in general) and how they operate. Paul Solman: I’m on record on this page (and elsewhere)… Continue reading
Jun 23 Watch Candidates Stump in Battleground Western States Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain took shots at each other over energy policy as they each toured Western states, hoping to drive home their message in what could be new battlegrounds this campaign season. Continue watching