As I discussed in my January column, the U.S. economy was strong in 2019, with solid economic and job growth, and low inflation. Unfortunately, indicators suggest that Michigan’s economy was not as strong. Data on economic growth for Michigan in 2019 will not be known for several months, though data that is available indicate that
You know you’re getting old when what’s playing on “Oldies Radio” are tunes fresh from your 30s and 40s. In case you hadn’t noticed, what used to be the province of the Beatles, Stones, Seger and Motown Records greats has been “youth”-infused with the best of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, the grown-up Michael Jackson and old-school
Happy New Year! Last year was full of record-setting unemployment, record-setting stock market indexes, and lots of political twists, turns and surprises. Looking back, if you would have told me in November 2016, when the S&P 500* index was trading at 2,100, that the S&P 500 would go up to almost 3,200 by year-end 2019
The U.S. economy had a good year. Despite numerous pronouncements that a recession was around the corner, the U.S. enjoyed strong growth in jobs and output. Economic output is on track to grow by 2.3 percent in 2019, compared to 2.5 percent in 2018. Approximately 180,000 new jobs per month were created in 2019, compared
There are some places that can’t be explored in a day, or a weekend, or even a week. In some places, you could spend your whole lifetime trekking the paths, finding new streets, entering museums and seeing the sights – and still, somehow, you wouldn’t have seen it all. Somehow – you’d still be left
I love watching the Food Network and one of the shows I have enjoyed recently is “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.” On the show, chefs talk about what they love to eat and where they go to eat it. It makes me very hungry just watching it! Since I write a lot of the
It’s a new year, and not just any year, either. We get an extra day! This is way more intense than that extra hour you get at the end of Daylight Saving – this is an extra 24 hours. Something about that feels like pressure. I mean, you have an entire extra day to not
If you volunteered to bring the cheese ball to the holiday potluck or family gathering this year, you’ll probably expect it to fade into the background behind all the other beautiful and exciting dishes on the table. This year, make your traditional “dairy sphere” into a gorgeous centerpiece by taking it out of the round
We all know the lyrics. We all know the melody. We know the man who sang it, way back when. Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” is perhaps the most iconic Christmas song of all time. It is also the greatest selling single recording of all time according to the Guinness Book of World Records (over 50,000,000
As a kid ripping the wrapping paper off my Dream Veterinarian Barbie, Barbie Camper or pretty much any Christmas present, I never questioned why. All I could question was whether, buried under the stack of gifts I had to open, I might find a Mod Hair Ken doll, so Barbie could finally date. Christmas really
Why in the name of Jar Jar Binks am I not more excited about “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”? The sci-fi flick coming to theaters December 20 is the ninth – and supposedly final – entry in what was conceived as a triple trilogy by George Lucas 40-plus years ago. But the results of
The family plans have been set, party dates chosen … the Christmas season is in full force and the decorations that Hobby Lobby put out in September are finally starting to look appropriate. It truly is a magical time of year – a time for love, forgiveness, unification and celebration. This is a great time
