If he was thinking Russia would help he was badly mistaken. Their plans to diversify is wise given that they can not increase production from here by that much more without endangering their long term supplies. I suspect their reserves aren't what they have been implying they were and they know it.

Very good points. Although people bring up the fact that he lower savings rate won't have an effect, long term it does. Also, if capital gains slow then that will be another element discouraging growth in the future. Sadly, such a cycle feeds on itself.

Higher prices weak growth is not a good sign. However its not gas alone, in reality the US dollar weakness should be a concern for everyone and everything if it persists (save exporters). Unlike Asian export nations, the US only gets some benefit from a weak currency and is largely offset because we are an import nation more than an export making things we buy more expensive.

People forget, the central banks main function is and should be the successful sales of US Treasuries from the government largess. Everything else comes second. QE is actually a way they an cover up that failing and isn't looked at in that light, although it should be.

Freedom is not what I would define Google's campus and I've been at Google many a time. It is a dog eat dog business environment where performance and networking survive. I am all for R&D, but directed to where it is profitable. One reason Google is the way it is, is because of so many divisions that don't make money ever and going from project to project. Google is a great company. Carefully honed focus is the key.

Improved but only marginally. There is really not a significant or noteworthy change.

The only way inflation picks up is commodity inflation for basic things which is not good, its bad. That is because the other ways inflation picks up are dead in the water. These are 1) People making more and spending more and/or more people making more which is not happening. 2) People borrowing more which is hard to do without #1 and isn't happening 3) The government spending more or taking less which is rumored but hasn't happened and 4) events that cause natural shortages and price run ups (fortunately none big enough to cause mass inflation across the board has happened) and 5) Some Federal Reserve insanity which I think the Federal Reserve is already up to its eyeballs with QE.

Sadly I'd say no. There is no regulatory body to do so besides Congress or the President? Certainly Congress is not going to and the Presidency will not touch it. Implying your statistics are lies will undercut the faith in the economy.

It's not a market or capitalist decision. It will stop working when the Federal Reserve ends it willingly (not likely) or are forced to raise rates because of inflation, political forces, or the most likely (they see a downturn coming and need a cushion when it hits). That's why it's a planned economy. There is no rational way to predict it besides track the Federal Reserve. Thus businesses are hesitant to do too much given they can be bitten anytime. This will not happen for at least this year and probably early next year.

The issue isn't their service. Fortunately their sales in the US is growing. For a while they were relying on foreign expansion to grow. The issue is their finances which remain sub par. However, many companies in this low growth economy and low interest rate environment are adding on debt, so the model works until it doesn't.

By the way, they are raising prices this year. I am refuting the statement the author put forth saying the market won't tolerate their losses. As I stated, Netflix and others have proven those focusing only on their bad finances wrong for years now. however, people still should be aware of it.