Morning Journal-Bernanke's mistakes

Economics
This Week’s Data

July industrial production was reported at +0.6% versus expectations of +0.5%; capacity utilization came in at 79.4% versus estimates of 79.2%.
http://scottgrannis.blogspot.com/2012/08/industrial-production-remains-healthy.html

Weekly jobless claims rose 5,000 versus forecasts of up 1,000.
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2012/08/weekly-initial-unemployment-claims_16.html

July housing starts fell 1.8% versus expectations of a 1.3% drop; however, building permits soared 7.5% versus estimates of a 1.5% increase.


Other

(One of) Bernanke’s errors (medium):
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/crushed-consumption-unintended-consequence-bernankes-arrogance

Another---this is a little ‘in the weeds’ but the bottom line is that ‘shadow bank’ liabilities are falling faster than bank liabilities are rising, hence QE’s accomplish nothing (medium):
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/why-qe-not-working

A question for bank regulators (medium):
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/guest-post-biggest-conflict-interest-finance

Comparing debt levels of EU versus the US (short and must read):
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/spot-looming-crisis

Two measures of inflation (short/medium):
http://advisorperspectives.com/dshort/updates/CPI-PCE-Comparison.php

Politics

Domestic

More on Muslims in government (medium):
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/p19063.xml

Dems ask debate commission to disallow questions on Simpson Bowles (short):
http://michellemalkin.com/2012/08/14/dems-debate-deficit/

Eric Holder and voter ID’s (medium):
http://washingtonexaminer.com/eric-holders-uphill-battle-huge-public-support-for-voter-id/article/2504969

Steve Cook received his education in investments from Harvard, where he earned an MBA, New York University, where he did post graduate work in economics and financial analysis and the CFA Institute, where he earned the Chartered Financial Analysts designation in 1973. His 40 years of investment experience includes institutional portfolio management at Scudder, Stevens and Clark and Bear Stearns. Steve's goal at Strategic Stock Investments is to help other investors build wealth and benefit from the investing lessons he learned the hard way.