The Durable Goods Orders Level/Flat August 2026

(Illustrative Only)
Bringing their organice
farm products to the 
market.

The durable goods orders are one assessment of the overall health of industrial manufacturing section. It tracks new orders, shipments, and backlogs. In this case it is flat. That is interesting because consumer sentiment declines, the economy is expected to be healthy, interest rates are high, and some indication that manufacturing expanding. 

U.S. Durable Goods Orders Remain Nearly Flat in August 2026

• New orders for manufactured durable goods in August were $338.6 billion, essentially unchanged from July after a 0.9% increase in July.

• Orders excluding transportation equipment increased 0.3%, suggesting modest underlying manufacturing demand despite weakness in transportation.

• Orders excluding defense increased 0.1%, indicating that the overall manufacturing picture was relatively stable when defense-related activity is removed.

• Transportation equipment orders declined 0.6%, or $0.7 billion, to $114.1 billion. Transportation has now declined in three of the past four months.

• The Census Bureau's M3 survey provides monthly information on shipments, inventories, and orders and is used as an indicator of current manufacturing activity and future business trends. The August advance report was released September 25, 2026, with the full report scheduled for October 2.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026, September 25). Monthly advance report on durable goods manufacturers' shipments, inventories and orders. U.S. Department of Commerce. Census Bureau report

Consumer Sentiment Declines Some for September 2026

A decline in consumer sentiment is interesting because the economy appears to be expanding. Most economists, researchers, and economic theorists are saying that the economy continues to grow, while consumer confidence is moving in the opposite direction.

That creates an interesting disconnect between what economists see and what consumers are experiencing or expecting. Whether this becomes a long-term trend is uncertain. It is worth watching to see whether the optimism is concentrated among investors and economists while workers, consumers, and the average person feel differently. For now, we can simply keep following the economic data and see whether that gap continues to grow.

Consumer Sentiment Remains Weak in September 2026

• Consumer sentiment fell to 47.8 in September, down from 51.7 in August.
• Current economic conditions declined slightly to 50.9.
• Consumer expectations dropped to 45.8 from 51.5.
• Sentiment remains below September 2025 levels.
• Weak consumer confidence may influence household spending and economic decisions.

University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research. (2026). Surveys of consumers. https://www.sca.isr.umich.edu/

Justice and Economic Development (The Allegory of the Clan)

Justice matters for economic development. Societies grow stronger when people have the freedom to worship, participate in the economy, speak openly, and take part in public life.

Laws and institutions should protect those freedoms and include meaningful checks on power. Without those checks, laws can be used to divide society or deny people equal treatment—and the consequences can be both social and economic.

The Allegory of the Clan, like Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, can be used as a thought experiment of enlightenment principles (i.e. the one's in which a nation was founded.): What happens when institutions prefer some people while treating others as less equal (think morality and perception)?

(As a thought experiment you should take with a grain of salt but explore the deeper purpose and meaning. Think of what brings good and what brings less than good.)

The answer matters because cooperation drives growth. Societies are more likely to innovate and adapt when people can work together, share ideas, and manage their differences.

Small differences in laws and institutions can create large differences in people's lives. A society can share a common history and patriotism while still treating some citizens as second-class.

Justice, therefore, is not only a moral principle. It is also an economic one. Strong institutions protect individual freedom, promote equal participation, limit abuses of power, and create the conditions for people to work together and prosper.

To preserve and strengthen an system one must recognized what is working. Change is a constant. This is why we should always elect the best and brightest versus the most connected. Many people have sworn a level of profession or oath to those principles-even when inconvenient. 

The Judiciary and Economic Development

• Effective judiciaries are presented as a key component of the Rule of Law because courts enforce contracts, protect property rights, and provide mechanisms for resolving disputes between private parties and the state.
• Research discussed in the paper links stronger and more effective courts with greater access to credit, increased business investment, and growth of both small and large firms.
• The paper argues that improving laws on paper is not enough when legal institutions are ineffective. Evidence from transition economies suggests that institutional effectiveness can matter more for financial-market development than the quality of written law alone.
• Judicial efficiency involves more than simply adding judges or increasing budgets. The paper points to case backlogs, administrative practices, procedural design, incentives, and the broader legal environment as factors affecting court performance.
• Judicial independence is examined both structurally and behaviorally. The paper emphasizes that judges need sufficient independence, security, competence, and integrity to resist political pressure and corruption and to enforce the law effectively.

Dam, K. W. (2006). The judiciary and economic development. John M. Olin Program in Law and Economics Working Paper No. 287, University of Chicago Law School. https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/law_and_economics/287

Swim Coaching: It's All In the Hips!

(Illustrative Only)
Strong
core muscles
form from swimming.
Hula Hoops
work great for this.
The history of 
the Hula Hoops

September, 25th, 2026

IN THE POOL-Swim coaching is going pretty well. It’s also giving me a good excuse to brush up on my own swimming skills. I’m a good swimmer, but competitive swimming is a different animal. Apparently, just getting from one end of the pool to the other isn’t enough anymore.

There’s a surprising amount of fine-tuning involved—how your fingers enter the water, the angle of your body, finding the most efficient line through the water, and reducing drag. All those little details add up, and unfortunately, they require practice.

One thing we worked on recently was rotation. Some swimmers were having trouble rotating enough to generate power while also reducing drag. You don’t want to swim flat across the water like a floating board. There needs to be a noticeable rotation through the hips and torso.

That rotation helps generate power and forward momentum while making the stroke more efficient. Of course, getting all those body parts to cooperate at the same time is where the fun begins.

I found a video that explained the concept pretty well, so I watched it and thought it was a useful demonstration of what we were working on.

The conditioning of the athletes continues, along with the never-ending quest to make swimming look effortless—which, as any swimmer knows, usually means working really hard to make it look easy.

 

Eating Local, Developing Local Food Supply Chains, Better Overall Health (Log Cabin Cooking)

Eating locally and cooking at home may be two of the simpler ways to improve your diet—and you don't necessarily need a television chef, a $500 blender, or 47 ingredients to do it.

Much of the American food supply is highly processed. While processing has its advantages, preparing more meals from fresh ingredients gives people greater control over what they are actually eating. It also means knowing where some of that food comes from, which is generally a good thing.

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Working on Catching
my own fish
somtimes.

A stronger local food system could also improve food security. Farmers, fishermen, gardeners, food producers, and local artisans can supply communities through farmers markets, local grocery stores, and other outlets. COVID-19 provided a reminder that having multiple sources of food can be useful when larger supply chains run into problems. Having a significant portion of our food available locally could provide communities with another layer of protection.

Local agriculture can also create economic opportunities. Vacant land could potentially support hobby farms or small agricultural operations, allowing people to grow food without needing millions of dollars and a corporate boardroom to get started. Selling directly to local consumers can also help keep more money circulating within the community.

Cooking at home also becomes easier with experience. Once people learn basic techniques, they can prepare meals without relying heavily on recipes. A recent meal included cod served over salad, along with a homemade apple pie using apples simmered with butter, sugar, cinnamon, brown sugar, and lemon. Hungry? Homemade.

I have a fitness trainer license, and yoga instructor license, do a little coaching, so let me know if you need some help and send me a message to the right. 

Health Benefits of Eating Locally

• Buying locally can provide access to fresh foods while also supporting farmers and local food systems.
• Shorter supply chains may mean less handling and allow produce to be harvested closer to peak ripeness.
• Fresh fruits and vegetables provide important nutrients, antioxidants, and other compounds associated with a healthy diet.
• Farmers markets, community-supported agriculture, and gardening can provide opportunities for physical activity, social interaction, and learning.
• Buying seasonal products, visiting farmers markets, and growing some food at home are practical ways to increase local food consumption while supporting regional agriculture.

McCurdy, M. (2022, May 17). Health benefits of eating locally. University of New Hampshire Extension. https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2022/05/health-benefits-eating-locally

Philadelphia Fed Reserve President Anna Paulson Speaks at10th Annual FinTech Conference-Technology and the Economy

September 24th, 2026

WELLS, MI.-Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Anna Paulson recently spoke at the 10th Annual FinTech Conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, discussing economic conditions and emerging financial technologies.

Several recent economic reports are showing similar patterns. The U.S. economy continues to grow, although at a moderate pace, while significant investment in artificial intelligence is helping support economic activity. Inflation remains an important concern, while new financial technologies, including stablecoins, are creating additional areas for policymakers and businesses to watch.

The similarities among economic reports may also reflect the fact that researchers are working with many of the same economic indicators and data. However, researchers are increasingly looking at that information from new perspectives and combining knowledge from different fields.

This type of interdisciplinary research can be seen in areas such as neuroeconomics, which combines economics and neuroscience to better understand how people make decisions. At the same time, technological changes are creating new forms of financial exchange and changing how people and businesses interact with money.

As economics, technology, neuroscience, and finance continue to intersect, these emerging fields may provide new ways to understand both economic behavior and the changing financial system.

Philadelphia Fed Highlights Inflation, AI Investment and Fintech Innovation

• Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson said the U.S. economy remains resilient, with continued economic growth, consumer spending, and a relatively stable labor market despite tariffs and elevated energy prices.

• Business investment, particularly in artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers, is contributing to economic growth and supporting activity across technology and manufacturing.

• Underlying inflation remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, with tariffs, energy costs, and strong demand contributing to continued price pressures.

• Paulson supported a 25-basis-point increase in the federal funds rate and discussed the possibility of additional monetary policy adjustments as economic conditions develop.

• The Philadelphia Fed’s 10th Annual Fintech Conference is examining developments involving stablecoins, tokenized deposits, artificial intelligence, and other financial technologies, along with related regulatory and financial-stability issues.

Paulson, A. (2026, September 24). Opening remarks [Speech]. Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. https://www.philadelphiafed.org/the-economy/monetary-policy/260924-10th-annual-fintech-conference-speech

Military and Veteran Higher Education Stats and Amvets Scholarship Opportunities

September 24th, 2026

ESCANABA, MI- Supporting veterans means recognizing both the sacrifices they have made and the skills they bring home from military service. Especially the sacrafices for things like freedom of religion, speech, and societal engagement. Education can be an important next step in turning those experiences into long-term career opportunities.

Military service can provide valuable experience in leadership, discipline, teamwork, responsibility, and working toward a common objective. For individuals who may not have had many educational or economic advantages growing up, those skills can become an important foundation for future success.

The report below indicates about 62% of student veterans and servicemembers are first-generation college students. The article also notes that business is the most common field of study among veterans, and that student veterans have demonstrated strong academic performance in several studies.

Education support matters, too. Programs such as the GI Bill help veterans and servicemembers pay for tuition and other educational expenses. Community organizations and veterans' organizations can also play a role by connecting students with scholarships and other resources.

For veterans considering college or additional training, it may be worthwhile to explore scholarship opportunities through organizations such as AMVETS, along with federal and institutional education benefits. Investing in veterans' education can help translate military experience into new opportunities for individuals, families, and communities.

If you are a college student you may want to check out Amvets Scholarships. Likewise, supporting your local Amvets Post #123-Escanaba does help foster greater veteran engagement. If you would like to make a donation reach out. Escanaba Amvets Webpage and Esky Amvets Facebook

Military and Veteran Higher Education: Key Statistics and Trends

• About 62% of student veterans and servicemembers are first-generation college students, compared with 43% of non-military-affiliated students.
• Business is the most common field of study among veterans, accounting for about 27%, followed by STEM at 14.4% and health-related fields at 10.4%.
• Education benefits remain an important resource. In fiscal year 2021, about 610,009 students used the Post-9/11 GI Bill, while military students also received other forms of tuition assistance.
• Veterans are generally older college students; 57% of veteran students were age 30 or older, compared with 21% of non-veteran students in the cited data.
• The article highlights both educational and economic outcomes. Ten years after earning bachelor's degrees, veteran graduates in the cited study reported average gross income of $79,371, compared with $76,293 for nonveteran graduates.

Prestianni, T. (2024, November 29). 71 military and veteran higher education statistics for 2026. National University. https://www.nu.edu/blog/military-and-veteran-higher-education-statistics/