April 15, 2009

Deflation is Here

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The latest economic news:

For the first time since 1955, prices fell from the same month a year earlier, reflecting a stark drop in the cost of gasoline and automobiles. Overall, consumers paid 0.4 percent less for a range of goods and services last month than they did in March 2008.

The Labor Department reported that its consumer price index fell 0.1 percent in March from February as lower consumer demand for a range of goods and services kept a lid on rising prices.

The party line on this is that it’s not too big a deal because the decline was mostly centered on energy-related products and services.  Maybe so.  But I wouldn’t bet the ranch on it quite yet.

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DECEMBER IS MAKE OR BREAK

A full one-third of our annual fundraising comes in this month alone. That’s risky, because a strong December means our newsroom is on the beat and reporting at full strength—but a weak one means budget cuts and hard choices ahead.

With only days left until December 31, we've raised about half of our $400,000 goal—but we need a huge surge in reader support to close the remaining gap. Whether you've given before or this is your first time, your contribution right now matters.

Managing an independent, nonprofit newsroom is staggeringly hard. There’s no cushion in our budget—no backup revenue, no corporate safety net. We can’t afford to fall short, and we can’t rely on corporations or deep-pocketed interests to fund the fierce, investigative journalism Mother Jones exists to do. That’s why we need you right now. Please chip in to help close the gap.

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