Recent Streetsblog SF posts about Economics

Obama Energy Aide: ‘We Probably Saw Peak Demand for Gas … in 2007′

By Elana Schor | Apr 19, 2010 | No Comments

The decline in American driving that began at the start of the recession, fueled by record-high gas prices, came to an end late last year. But the Obama administration believes that its transport and energy policies have ushered in a long-term shift, "changing the fuel mix in ways that will drive down gasoline demand," according […]

Nevada Becomes Newest Battleground in Mileage Tax Debate

By Elana Schor | Apr 9, 2010 | No Comments

Nevada’s state DOT is in the early stages of a years-long study aimed at mapping a possible transition from the gas tax to a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fee, a shift urged last year by a congressionally chartered panel on infrastructure financing and encouraged by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). In-vehicle GPS units, such as the […]

Moody’s Gifts Fossil-Fuel States With Positive Credit Outlook

By Elana Schor | Mar 4, 2010 | 1 Comment

Comparing the falloff in state tax revenue to shifts in total unemployment. (Chart: Moody’s) Credit-rating agencies — particularly Moody’s and S&P, the nation’s two premier shops — wield significant influence over the financial health of private companies. But state and local officials are often equally dependent on good credit ratings to borrow money for transportation […]

A Day After Their TIGER Win, Freight Railroads Carve Out More Turf

By Elana Schor | Feb 18, 2010 | 3 Comments

The freight rail industry yesterday claimed the top three awards in the Obama administration’s competition for $1.5 billion in TIGER stimulus grants, with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood singling out train shippers for an online shout-out: (Chart: AAR) You know, although passengers and commuters have human faces, we need to remember that trade depends upon the […]

New Report Links Homeowners’ Auto Dependence With Foreclosure Risk

By Elana Schor | Jan 28, 2010 | 1 Comment

Homeowners in car-dependent areas without access to alternative transportation are at greater risk of foreclosure, according to a report released yesterday by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) that calls for mortgage underwriting standards to begin taking so-called "location-efficiency" into account. Weeds spring up near a foreclosed home in Illinois. (Photo: Getty) The NRDC examined […]

What if America’s Urban Economies Were National Ones?

By Elana Schor | Jan 21, 2010 | 3 Comments

The U.S. Conference of Mayors released a report this week with some dire conclusions for the nation’s cities: Even the payroll growth that many prognosticators anticipate this year won’t make a dent in double-digit urban unemployment. Half of the 363 biggest metro areas won’t return to their pre-recession jobs levels until 2013 or beyond. (Chart: […]

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