Economics and Investing:

Arrow Trucking suspends operations leaves hundreds of drivers stranded. (Our thanks to HPD for the link.)

El Jefe Jeff E. spotted this: Consumer Spending in U.S. Climbs Less Than Forecast

From Chris J.: Economy revised downward (AGAIN!). Chris’s comment: “It looks like the men in the know have yet again revised the third quarter downward, from 3.5% to 2.8% to 2.2%. Of course this CNN article doesn’t mention that the cash-for-clunkers and home buyer’s credits are estimated to be worth 2.0 to 2.5 percentage points. It takes faith though; the “experts” who didn’t get it right last time assure us that the economy will grow 3% this quarter!”

Items from The Economatrix:

Oil Holds Above $74 After OPEC Output Unchanged

Asian Markets Rise on Stronger US Housing Starts

November New Home Sales Seen Rising 2.3%
(But only because of the temporary Federal tax credit. The bottom is is still nowhere in sight!)

Top Execs: Longer, Deeper Recession Ahead

Professional Middle Class Hardest Hit By Recession

Ron Paul: Bernanke World’s Greatest Counterfeiter

Martin Weiss: Three Government Reports Reveal New Looming Risk

While You Were Sleeping…The Economy Collapsed

Jim Sinclair Interviews

Small Business Bankruptcies Rise 81% in California

The Ponzi Decade