SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT: 

GLUM NATION – FROM BREITBART:   Americans’ confidence in the economy is the “worst since the Great Recession,” according to a Gallup poll released on Wednesday.  The Economic Confidence Index (ECI) is down to -33, which while far from the record low of -72 in October 2008, reflects a negative growing sentiment toward rampant inflation. Notably, the ECI is just as low as it was in April 2020 — the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.  “With inflation in the U.S. at its highest point since 1982, Americans’ confidence in the economy has dropped to where it was in April 2020, when nationwide shutdowns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic plunged the nation into a recession,” the poll report states.   The percentage of U.S. adults who think the economy is the country’s most important problem increase three percentage points to 29 percent, which is the highest level in roughly five years. The percentage is still “well below” 86 percent in February 2009 and 73 percent in 1991 during economic recessions.   Happy New Year.

December 22, 2021