Unemployment, Inflation and the Fed

• Unemployment and Inflation – What is “Normal” in the United States? Valeo Financial Advisors
• Comparing the inflation following the Great Recession to four previous post recession periods The Big Picture
• Economist responds to question on why the Fed doesn’t return to the gold standard St. Louis Federal Reserve

U.S. Economy

• U.S. industrial production was flat last month. Chart since 2000: FRED
• Retail and Food Services Sales increased by more than expected during April. Chart since 2000: FRED

Housing

• Refinancings Plunge as Bond Yields Rise The Wall Street Journal
• Mortgage rates moved to within a hair of the 4% barrier this week, according to Freddie Mac Yahoo! Finance

International

• The wild ride of the Japanese Yen continue. 1-year chart: FRED

Etcetera

• Online branch deposits have jumped from $3 bn in 1998 to $208 bn in 2012 – Bernstein