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Economic strength appears to have room to run according to the Conference Board’s July 2018 release of their Leading Economic Index (LEI).  This forward-looking indicator rose 0.6 percent in the period after rising 0.5 percent in June.  Recent strength bodes well for America’s economy in the second half of this year. 

Industrial output edged up 0.1 percent in July 2018 after rising 0.5 percent in June according to the Federal Reserve’s report on Industrial Production.  This indicator is meant to measure everything physically produced or mined in America.  July’s uptick puts the year-over-year tally up 4.2 percent.

Industrial output edged up 0.1 percent in July 2018 after rising 0.5 percent in June according to the Federal Reserve’s report on Industrial Production.  This indicator is meant to measure everything physically produced or mined in America.  July’s uptick puts the year-over-year tally up 4.2 percent.

At our last Pie Party, Jack raised a question about basic definitions regarding terms often thrown around:  bull and bear market.   Well his question led to more questions.  What is a bull market?  When do they start?  How far must a bull market fall before it ends? 

Small business optimism continued riding high as the summer of 2018 heated up.  The optimism index from the National Federation of Independent Businesses reached its second highest level ever in July, rising to 107.9 from 107.2 in June; July 1983 (with a reading of 108.0) is the only period with a higher count in the survey’s 45-year history.

Your federal government went deeper into the hole in July 2018 according to the Treasury Department’s budget release.  Spending outpaced revenues by $76.9 billion, increasing the monthly shortfall by $2.0 billion compared to June.  Year-to-date, the fiscal deficit is $684.0 billion, 20.8 percent deeper than a year ago.

Queen teamed up with David Bowie in 1981 to create Under Pressure which topped the UK’s singles chart.  Search the internet for an interpretation of the lyrics and you’ll find oodles of opinions.  When you’re done reading this note, take a listen here and tell us what you think.  In the meantime, let’s look at an area of the market for which the s