The Economy

@The Big Ragu, you in this book?

 

Eh. There's always Huntersville and Statesville.

 

It's this book:

 

Cheaper gas helps, but prices won't ease in earnest until diesel becomes more reasonable. The cost of logistics is now the driver of inflation as supply issues start to improve. A truck driver shortage isn't helping either.

 

When we were in San Francisco in July for a trip involving my brother-in-law's memorial, I was stunned at the lack of people and traffic on Market Street in the Financial District. I didn't realize how much the pandemic had rendered all those office buildings virtually empty. The only busy areas were the usual tourist traps.

And according to this article, it's not a good situation for The City, because city leaders aren't willing to deal with the 900-pound tax issue in the room.

San Francisco Braces for Epic Commercial Real Estate Crash (sfstandard.com)

 

Potential U.S. railroad strike less than a week away.

 

Wadesboro

 

The looming rail strike is going to make the current supply chain issue look like a simple knotted shoelace. Get your toilet paper now.

 

RRs already cutting back ahead of what's sure to be a lockout. And, their terrible service months ago drew the attention of the STB, as shippers complained of extra long delays.
Amtrak also cancelling services over RR- owned tracks. Metra in Chicago will also be affected, as nine of its 11 lines run on freight RR-owned tracks. Probably Metrolink in SoCal, too.

 

I think BNSF and CSX have already declared an immediate halt of all intermodal loading and unloading on both coasts. It has the potential to really be ugly if the railroads dig in against the unions. I wouldn't be surprised if Biden or the Secretary of Transportation may have to step in with an emergency declaration until they can come to an agreement.

 

So many things that happened during Truman’s presidency seem to be happening during Biden’s. Inflation, Europe splitting at its seams… Add nationwide railroad strike to that list.