“As for the increase in coal, who is buying it and for what purpose?”

I hear that Santa Claus is buying up tons of coal…So he can put a lump of it in everyone’s stocking this Christmas…

As for the increase in coal, who is buying it and for what purpose?

When I called into work this last Tuesday, they indicated that some projects are at least being talked about and that I might get back to work “soon.” So, I am willing to accept that maybe there may be some economic activity on the horizon. Is anyone else hearing anything significant?

http://online.barrons.com/article/SB124847536976580233.html

“…that average weekly U.S. rail carloads headed up in June for the first time all year, from 249,000 in May, to 260,000. Coal shipments increased nearly 6% month-over-month to 125,000 carloads…”

“…intermodal traffic, which is largely consumer goods in trailers and shipping containers riding on flat cars, went from about 181,000 carloads to 189,000…”

“…Carloads of crushed stone, sand and gravel rose from about 15,000 cars to 16,000 cars…”

“…Daniel Keen, who is vice president of policy analysis… Keen wasn’t willing to dismiss my optimistic reading [in spite of the negative annual numbers ] of the June data out-of-hand, saying that the increases for the month could be positive…”

Interesting Barry – perhaps they don’t spin because low utilization = better bargains for shippers which the assocation has a vested interest in getting the word out about…

reply:
—————
You are correct. Just as low sales at retail create massive savings for customers (not so good for employees, though)

You are correct. Just as low auto sales create massive savings for customers (not so good for employees, though)

You are correct. Just as low home sales create massive savings for buyers (not so good for people who build houses or make things that go into them, though)

You are correct. Just as low discretionary spending create massive savings for customers who used to buy for recreation (not so good for employees, though)

Thankfully, you have a stupendous stock market pump in progress ,thanks to excess cash liquidity, really great computers, massive front running volume, a do nothing and totally disinterested SEC, and complicit exchanges. Don’t be the last buyer in, though, when excess volume is forced to leave someday. All it will take 1s an uptick rule or the end of flash trading. HA HA on you.

I’ve never read one of your books. Do they all sound as insightful as the above comment you wrote? Are you sure you’re not really F411?

I know that this is off topic, however, I thought that Geithner fans might find this interesting…..

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/

SUNDAY JULY 26, 2009 08:27 EDT

The war being waged on the TARP watchdog’s independence

“…Barofksy’s clashes with administration officials have intensified of late. Last week, he issued a report documenting that the actual amount of taxpayer money theoretically put at risk in the bank bailout — once Federal Reserve, FDIC and other programs are counted — is $23.7 trillion, not the widely cited figure of $700 billion, a report that prompted attacks from the White House and Treasury on his credibility….”

“…Jake Tapper conducted a 20-minute podcast interview with Barofsky, and I really recommend that everyone listen to it (it can be heard by clicking PLAY on the recorder below or can be downloaded here)….”

Best regards,

Econolicious