Entries from Chemicals & The Economy tagged with 'Depression'

Boom/Gloom Index suggests downturn resuming

A recession is often defined as being when your neighbour loses their job. A depression is when you lose your job. Latest industrial production data shows output is falling around the world. And US unemployment is rising again, with the...

Consumers prioritise "needs" versus "wants"

The current recession is the blog's fourth, after those of the mid-1970s, and early 1980's and 1990's. It is, however, already different from these, as it is the only one which has led to comparisons being made with the 1930's...

Crisis "more serious than the 1930's"

Last August, the blog noted that politicians were beginning to wake up to the scale of the current crisis. There are still many politicians (and businessmen) who still hope we are facing just a 'normal recession'. But last week, IMF...

Global manufacturing sinks

Manufacturing output is contracting around the world. JP Morgan's global index sank 15% in December, and they expect "an intense contraction phase" to continue "for some months to come". The G7 and BRIC countries are all seeing a decline, as...

The aptly named Mr Darling

In August, the blog welcomed the statement by UK Finance Minister, Alistair Darling, that the 'global economy was at a 60-year low'. It noted that he was 'the first western politician to abandon reassurance and instead to focus on the...