Economics and Investing:

Reader Eric S. spotted this: CIT debt swap could cost U.S. more than $1.8 billion

By way of Market Oracle, Damon found these two links: News From 1930 and Zero Hedge discusses railroad carloading statistics.

Items from The Economatrix:

Jim Willie: Systemic Failure Approaches. “Numerous sustaining forces will contribute toward the inexorable path to systemic failure. It will begin with the relapse failure of the US banking system. Citigroup is facing real bankruptcy, whose numerous segments are underwater and growing worse. Bank of America is in a death spiral, whose CEO Ken Lewis departs amidst political and shareholder legal pressures. Wells Fargo is so dead that its true balance sheet makes a skeleton come to life, whose prime Option ARM and second mortgage exposure is monumental.”

Wells Fargo “Lost” Grandma’s Money

US Faces “Retro” 70’s Inflation

FDIC Insuring 8,200 Banks with $9 Trillion in Deposits and Zero in the Deposit Insurance Fund; Calling Banks to Prepay Assessment of $45 Billion

Job Losses Overshadow Any Signs of Recovery

Greenspan: US Should Raise Taxes, Tighten Credit

Consumer Bankruptcies Soar in September

World Unemployment Rising; Rates, Responses Vary

Recession’s Unemployment Takes Bigger Toll on Singles

Retail Stores Closing Doors in 2009

InkStop Abruptly Closes All 152 Stores, No Money For Workers

Japanese Deflation Worst on Record

US Unemployment Now Lasts Longer than Benefits

Are US Treasuries a Bubble Ready to Pop?

The Biggest Banking Heist in World History: Washington Mutual

Gary North: What is Money?

A Jobless Economy Recovery or Something Else?

Why All the Fuss Over Rare Earth Metals?