Category / Federal Reserve

by Hoosier Econ

Cost of Police Riot Gear

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American law enforcement face a daunting task of regaining control of neighborhoods in cities once a riot breaks out. Police for decades have been educated and trained for these types of situations. Technology has developed to help the officers but it comes with a cost.

Friend of mine who is in law enforcement and has years of experience training for these scenarios gave out some information in the cost of some of the riot gear police use. Here is the breakdown of a few of the devices used by law enforcement:

One Hand Deployed Distraction Device, AKA “Flash Bang” – $50.00

One Flameless Chemical Tri Chamber, AKA “CS/CN Canister” – $50.00

One 12 Gauge Drag Stabilized Bean Bag Lethal Impact Round – $8.00

by Hoosier Econ

Oil Stocks Outperform in State Pension Funds

WorldOil.com is showing interesting investment returns on state pension funds invested in oil. The study was done by Sonecon.

On average, $1 invested in oil and natural gas stocks in 2005 was worth $2.30 in 2013. By contrast, $1 invested in all other assets over the same period was worth $1.68.

While oil and natural gas stocks make up, on average, 4% of holdings in the top public pension funds, they accounted for, on average, 8% of the returns in these funds from 2005 to 2013, according to the Sonecon study.                                    

The report examines the top two public pension funds in 17 states, which collectively cover more than half (55%) of all workers in the U.S. who participate in state and local government pension plans.

States analyzed in the report are: California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

by Hoosier Econ

Hybrid Car Owners Breaking Up With Mother Earth

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Hybrid car owners are not feeling the love of the environment anymore and showing it with their purchasing power. I remember the hysteria a decade ago if you didn’t buy a hybrid then you didn’t love Mother Earth. JustFactsDaily.com had this question up on their website for viewers to answer:

    Thus far in 2015, what portion of the people who traded in a hybrid or electric car purchased another such car?

Once you answered, they provided documentation to research done by Edmunds.com:

    Car buyers are trading in hybrid and electric cars for SUVs at a higher rate than ever before, according to a new analysis from car-buying platform Edmunds.com.

    According to Edmunds.com, about 22 percent of people who have traded in their hybrids and EVs in 2015 bought a new SUV. The number represents a sharp increase from 18.8 percent last year, and it is nearly double the rate of 11.9 percent just three years ago. Overall, only 45 percent of this year’s hybrid and EV trade-ins have gone toward the purchase of another alternative fuel vehicle, down from just over 60 percent in 2012. Never before have loyalty rates for alt-fuel vehicles fallen below 50 percent.

Edmunds also provides analysis of how long it takes financially to justify paying the price of hybrid vehicles with gas price savings:

    To underscore the point, Edmunds calculates that at the peak average national gas price of $4.67/gallon in October 2012, it would take five years to break even on the $3,770 price difference between a Toyota Camry LE Hybrid ($28,230) and a Toyota Camry LE ($24,460). At today’s national average gas price of $2.27/gallon, it would take twice as much time (10.5 years) to close the same gap.
by Hoosier Econ

Indiana Farm Sale Blowout: $16,200 Per Acre

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Via Indiana Economic Digest –

Elliott Farm sells at $16,200 per acre
Elliott Farm, located near Poseyville, recently sold its 69 acres at auction for $16,200 per acre, or $1,117,800 in total.

The farm had been held by the Elliott Family since the early 1940s and was purchased by a local farmer who was represented by proxy. According to auctioneer Andrew Wilson, the price per acre is a record for this area

by Hoosier Econ

Big Changes Coming to Indiana Business Property Taxes

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Story concerning a property tax case that could affect the whole state businesses property taxes slipped through without much notice. An Indianapolis Meijer’s store filed suit against Marion County Indiana over how it’s store was assessed for property taxes. Counties could stand to lose financially if the ruling stands.

Here is more from mLIVE.com –

The Indiana Board of Tax Review ruled last month that the Michigan-based retailer’s store in Indianapolis should have been assessed in 2012 at the equivalent of $30 per square foot, instead of nearly three times the rate as Meijer was charged.

The decision could leave Marion County on the hook for a $2.4 million refund to Meijer and could set the stage for other retailers to make similar challenges to their tax assessments.

The value of retail real estate is based on the current condition of the business, but the case raises questions about what effect, if any, the sales that occur there should have on the value. Big-box chains are pushing to have their buildings compared to others that have been vacated and sold, an approach known as the “dark store theory.”

If the tax board’s ruling stands, Meijer will save more than $400,000 a year on its tax bill.

by Hoosier Econ

Portable Speakers: 1980’s vs Today

How people listened to music in the 1980’s with their portable radios
80sboombox

Present day device for a portable speaker which you can listen to music from a device like your cellphone. You can buy it at Amazon.com for $36
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This is the TDK A12 TREK Micro NFC Bluetooth Portable Mini Wireless Outdoor Speaker. It weighs 6.6 ounces and product dimension of 3.2 x 3.2 x 1.2 inches. Power source is one AAA battery.

by Hoosier Econ

JP Morgan Legal Costs

ZeroHedge posted this on their Twitter account but this shows how lawyers make billions off a highly regulated financial system via the government.

by Hoosier Econ

Price of Bull Semen

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AustinHeraldDaily.com had an interesting article about $70,000 worth of bull semen being stolen in Minnesota. The fascinating aspect of it was the price of bull semen being sold on the market. Here is a snapshot of the pricing.

    The canister was worth about $500, and the vials of semen were worth from $300 to $1,500 apiece.

by Hoosier Econ

Most Valuable Exports by State

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H/T Washington Post

by Hoosier Econ

How Many Wineries Are in Indiana?

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There are 76 wineries in the Hoosier state. Indiana produces 1.4 million gallons of wine a year, but it grows only 650 acres of grapes.

H/T TheStarPress.com