The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI)

Released Monday morning, it moved up to -0.17 in May from -0.19 in April. Two of the four broad based categories of indicators that make up the index increased from April, but only the employment, unemployment and hours category made positive contribution to the index in May.

The index’s three month moving average (CFNAI-MA3), increased slightly to -0.16 in May from -0.20 in April. May’s CFNAI-MA3 suggests growth in national economic activity was somewhat below its historical trend. The economic growth reflected in this level of CFNAI-MA3 suggests subdued inflationary pressure from economic activity over the coming year.

Here we go with the political correctness again.

Nikki Haley, the governor of South Carolina (Republican) who had herself brought to tears last week because of the insane man killing innocents (you will NEVER stop insane people from executing their intentions. NEVER) in her state, has decided to call for the removal of the Confederate Battle Flag from the statehouse grounds. Talk about sucking up for votes.

This flag is a significant part of American history, a part that should not be ignored or removed. If it is removed, its history will be ignored. If its history is ignored, it will be forgotten. God forbid (am I permitted to invoke the name of God?).

As the week moved forward, retailers removed Confederate flags from their shelves, no longer for sale. There has been defacement of statues honoring Civil War statesman, military heroes etc. Talk of getting rid of the US flag and removal of certain monuments in Washington, DC. The Jefferson Monument? Washington himself owned slaves, shall we re-name our capitol? This is not bordering on the ridiculous, it is ridiculous.

Guns

Guns….one of the first things the Anointed One urged last week in the wake of the massacre in South Carolina was the “obvious” need for more gun control. This is another line of crap that makes NO sense whatsoever.

Guns are available; they have always been available and will always be available. It’s a nice notion to think you can legislate the removal of weapons from the hands of criminals but it cannot be accomplished. That’s just common sense; there are bad people out there who have bad intentions.

And what of those law abiding American citizens?

The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”.

Are they going to re-write the Constitution for their nonsensical whims? 72 people were shot in Chicago this past weekend, 7 of them have died…so far. These are likely not law abiding citizens but they get their hands on weapons.

I have said this before: If you take guns away from law abiding citizens, only the government and the bad guys will have guns. The Framers knew this reality, hence we have the Second Amendment. Do you really think it’s wise for the citizens to give up their arms? It has been done before with dire consequences. Pull mine from my cold dead hands.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Fifth District Survey of Manufacturing Activity 6/23/15

Fifth District manufacturing activity grew modestly in June, according to the most recent survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The volume of new orders picked up while order backlogs increased, however, shipments remained flat in June. Manufacturing employment continued to rise at a modest pace while average wages grew moderately. Prices of raw materials and prices of finished goods rose at a faster pace in June.”

Manufacturing executives anticipated positive business conditions during the next six months. Manufacturers expected faster growth in shipments and in the volume of new orders.”

The Bureau of Economic Analysis

Its third and final estimate of real gross domestic product for the first quarter of 2015:

Real GDP, the value of the production of goods and services decreased at an annual rate of 0.2 percent in the first quarter.”

The previous estimate was a decrease of 0.7 percent.

US raw steel production

Production decreased 1.2 percent last week as mills operated at an ACUR of 73 percent. In the corresponding week last year mills operated at an ACUR of 78.5 percent. Thus far this year mills have produced approx. 42,000,000 tons of steel at an ACUR of 72.4 percent, down from 77.3 percent in the like period last year.

The rats are having a Friday party

An attacker with ties to French islamic radicals rammed a car into an American gas factory in France on Friday, leaving a severed head and banners with arabic inscriptions at the entrance.”

-Reuters

Islamic state fighters killed at least 145 civilians in an attack on the Syrian town of Kobani and a nearby village on Friday.”

-Reuters

At least 27 people, including foreign tourists, were killed when at least one gunman opened fire on a Tunisian beachside hotel in the popular resort of Sousse on Friday.”

Hillary has been caught in another lie

The State Department said former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton didn’t hand over at least 15 emails that appear to be work-related from her personal server, contradicting her claims that all her work emails were in the hands of the federal government.”

-WSJ

Have a great weekend…. God bless America!

Buy American made products whenever you can, it’s good for you, good for your friends and neighbors and good for our country.
If you are hiring…try to hire a veteran…. they are loyal, disciplined, hardworking…and they deserve our support.

Remember these tidbits as the election cycle grinds on:

Fast & Furious-Americans killed by guns supplied to the drug cartels…by the Department of Justice-Eric Holder presiding. The president was clueless. No one held accountable
Benghazi: Four Americans killed in an assault described as the result of a viral video. This was proved to be a false narrative. This was in fact, a planned act of terror. The president was clueless. No one even knows where he was as this went down. No one held accountable
“At this point, what difference does it make?” Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State
The IRS targeting of conservative groups and individuals. No one held accountable, Lois Lerner is on paid vacation and has refused to testify. The president was clueless. No one held accountable
Hillary using a private server for correspondence during her term as Secretary of State against the orders of the president. She thought “it would be more convenient…” Though the records were due when she left office, they were not submitted, subpoenas were issued, which she ignored for two years. Finally, she released 30,000 of some 60,000 alleged emails then she deleted the rest of the emails and will NOT turn over the server for investigation.