June 2009 compared to past Junes Compared to previous Junes, ice extent in June 2009 was extremely close to the last two years, falling within 30,000 square kilometers (12,000 square miles) of the June extent in 2007 and 2008. The long-term trend indicates a decline of 3.3% per decade, an average of 40,100 square kilometers […]
From Calculated Risk: This graph shows Capacity Utilization. This series is at another record low (the series starts in 1967). In addition to the weakness in industrial production, there is little reason for investment in new production facilities until capacity utilization recovers. … Industrial Production Declines, Capacity Utilization at Record Low in June Technorati Tags: […]
Oil consumption in the US decreased by 480,000 b/d from March to April to a level of 18.26 million b/d. Average consumption of oil in the US in 2009 up to April was 18.69 million b/d, versus 19.50 and 20.70 million b/d in respectively 2008 and 2007. … Oilwatch Monthly – July 2009 Technorati Tags: […]
It takes a lot of phosphorus to support our diet-about 222.5kg per person per year for a normal balanced diet. Professor Stuart White, Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney suggests that it follows the same Hubbert’s Peak pattern as oil, and that we are just about at the peak. He writes in […]
‘Once-in-a-century’ drought sending campers indoors and stunting crops North Texas has had average rainfall this year, and three “cool” days this week felt like Christmas in July. But don’t tell your friends in Central and South Texas, because they are feeling hot, parched and bothered. A “once-in-a-century” drought is baking a big swath of Texas, […]
From Calculated Risk: Just using Sacramento as an example … I wish the NAR broke out the data like this! The Sacramento Association of REALTORS® is now breaking out monthly resales by equity sales (normal resales), and distressed sales (Short sales and REO sales). Here is the June data. They started breaking out REO sales […]
Slide 12In analogy with oil scarcity: it’s highly unlikely that we will find another “Saudi-Arabia” or another “North Sea” of rich mineral deposits. Metal Minerals Scarcity and the Elements of Hope Technorati Tags: resource depletion
We talk about drought in California, rainwater capture issues in Colorado, and fresh water troubles in the South East. But, as water expert Peter Gleick pointed out yesterday, we haven’t a clue about what a real water crisis looks like. Australians do. As we discussed during June when we examined Peak Water, Australia has some […]
From Calculated Risk: Last night Reis reported that the U.S. office vacancy rate hit 15.9 percent in Q2. (See Reis: U.S. Office Vacancy Rate Hits 15.9% in Q2 for a graph). This graph shows the office vacancy rate vs. the quarterly unemployment rate and recessions. The unemployment rate and the office vacancy rate tend to […]
From Calculated Risk: By popular request … The FDIC closed seven more banks yesterday, and the following graph shows bank failures by week for 2009. So far there have been 52 FDIC bank failures in 2009.It appears the pace has picked up lately (12 bank closings over the last two weeks). … FDIC Bank Failures […]
