Inflation & Taxes
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Who Put Tariffs in My ($20!) Burrito?
From aluminum wrappers to beef, cheese, and tomatoes, Washington has found a way to make every bite more expensive. ‘TACOs’ shouldn’t cost so much.
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California’s Billionaire Tax May Cost More Than It Raises, Reports Find
If a 5-percent levy chases billionaires out of Cali, the long-term income tax gap (not to mention litigation costs) will swallow any wealth-tax windfall.
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Business Conditions Monthly August 2026
The economy is still growing, but weak housing demand, slowing hiring, and renewed inflation pressures suggest a difficult balancing act ahead.
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The Debt Limit’s Lame-Duck Test: Can Republicans Cut Spending?
Congress may raise the debt limit again, as spending surges and the deficit widens. Does fiscal restraint have any defenders left?
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Trump’s $5,000 Offer Reveals How Washington Works
Politicians routinely promise benefits to current voters at future taxpayers’ expense. The president’s offer simply strips away the pretense.
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The S&P Is Soaring, But Two-Thirds of Stocks Are Stalling
The S&P 500 promises broad exposure to American business. But with ten companies accounting for 40 percent of its value, investors may be far less diversified than they believe.
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Higher Fuel Costs Spike AIER’s Everyday Price Index
Surging fuel prices drove AIER’s Everyday Price Index to its largest monthly gain since May, strengthening the case for Fed tightening. But concentrated price increases leave questions about renewed price pressure.
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Australia’s Tobacco Taxes Have Sparked a Criminal Turf War
Australia tried to end smoking with punitive taxes. Instead, it created a lucrative trade for smugglers and a wave of violent attacks on retailers.
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Why Didn’t 2008 Bank Bailouts Produce COVID-Level Inflation?
Washington responded to two crises with extraordinary monetary and fiscal interventions. Why did COVID-era stimulus produce soaring inflation when the response to the 2008 financial crisis did not?
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Can Other States Learn From California’s Property Tax Experiment?
Capping property taxes isn’t all upside, but California’s Proposition 13 shows how tax limits can protect property owners from sudden increases and provide greater predictability.
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•
Who Put Tariffs in My ($20!) Burrito?
From aluminum wrappers to beef, cheese, and tomatoes, Washington has found a way to make every bite more expensive. ‘TACOs’ shouldn’t cost so much.
-
•
California’s Billionaire Tax May Cost More Than It Raises, Reports Find
If a 5-percent levy chases billionaires out of Cali, the long-term income tax gap (not to mention litigation costs) will swallow any wealth-tax windfall.
-
•
Business Conditions Monthly August 2026
The economy is still growing, but weak housing demand, slowing hiring, and renewed inflation pressures suggest a difficult balancing act ahead.
-
•
The Debt Limit’s Lame-Duck Test: Can Republicans Cut Spending?
Congress may raise the debt limit again, as spending surges and the deficit widens. Does fiscal restraint have any defenders left?
-
•
Trump’s $5,000 Offer Reveals How Washington Works
Politicians routinely promise benefits to current voters at future taxpayers’ expense. The president’s offer simply strips away the pretense.
-
•
The S&P Is Soaring, But Two-Thirds of Stocks Are Stalling
The S&P 500 promises broad exposure to American business. But with ten companies accounting for 40 percent of its value, investors may be far less diversified than they believe.
-
•
Higher Fuel Costs Spike AIER’s Everyday Price Index
Surging fuel prices drove AIER’s Everyday Price Index to its largest monthly gain since May, strengthening the case for Fed tightening. But concentrated price increases leave questions about renewed price pressure.
-
•
Australia’s Tobacco Taxes Have Sparked a Criminal Turf War
Australia tried to end smoking with punitive taxes. Instead, it created a lucrative trade for smugglers and a wave of violent attacks on retailers.
-
•
Why Didn’t 2008 Bank Bailouts Produce COVID-Level Inflation?
Washington responded to two crises with extraordinary monetary and fiscal interventions. Why did COVID-era stimulus produce soaring inflation when the response to the 2008 financial crisis did not?
-
•
Can Other States Learn From California’s Property Tax Experiment?
Capping property taxes isn’t all upside, but California’s Proposition 13 shows how tax limits can protect property owners from sudden increases and provide greater predictability.