Consumer Sentiment

Consumer sentiment refers to the overall mood of consumers about the economy and their willingness to spend money. It is often measured through surveys and is considered a leading indicator of economic activity. High consumer sentiment suggests that consumers are optimistic about the future and are likely to spend more, while low consumer sentiment indicates pessimism and a tendency to save more.

Wage Growth

Wage growth refers to the rate at which wages are increasing over time. It is an important indicator of economic health, as it reflects the purchasing power of workers and their ability to afford goods and services. Strong wage growth is generally considered a positive sign for the economy, while weak wage growth can indicate a slowdown in economic activity.

Federal Budget Deficit

The federal budget deficit is the difference between the amount of money the US government spends and the amount of money it collects in revenue. When the government spends more than it collects, it runs a deficit. The federal budget deficit is a major concern for policymakers, as it can lead to higher interest rates, inflation, and a weaker economy.

Precision Agriculture

Precision agriculture is a farming management system that uses technology to optimize crop production and resource use. It involves using sensors, data analysis, and other technologies to collect information about soil conditions, plant health, and other factors that affect crop yields. Precision agriculture aims to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize environmental impact.

Mobile Home Parks

Mobile home parks are communities that provide spaces for residents to park and live in mobile homes. They are often considered a more affordable housing option than traditional single-family homes. However, mobile home park residents often face challenges related to rent increases, property ownership, and community management.

Rent Uniformity

Rent uniformity refers to the practice of charging all tenants in a mobile home park the same rent for their lot. This is a controversial issue, as some argue that it is unfair to charge new residents the same rent as those who have been living in the park for decades. Others argue that rent uniformity is necessary to ensure fairness and prevent price discrimination.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is a nonpartisan agency that provides economic and budgetary analysis to the US Congress. The CBO's role is to provide objective and unbiased information to help Congress make informed decisions about spending, taxes, and other economic policies. The CBO's analysis is widely respected and is often used by policymakers to assess the costs and benefits of proposed legislation.

Yale Budget Lab

The Yale Budget Lab is a new organization housed at Yale University that is experimenting with different methods of budget scoring. The Budget Lab is focused on incorporating long-term societal outcomes into budget analysis, going beyond the traditional focus on short-term economic impacts. The Budget Lab's work is intended to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the costs and benefits of government policies.

Home Town America

Home Town America is a company that owns and operates mobile home parks across the United States. The company has been involved in legal battles over rent uniformity in Massachusetts, arguing that it should be able to charge new residents more than those who have been living in the parks for decades. The company's position has been challenged by residents who argue that rent uniformity is necessary to ensure fairness and prevent price discrimination.

Manufactured Housing Institute

The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) is a trade association that represents the interests of manufacturers and producers of manufactured homes. The MHI advocates for policies that support the manufactured housing industry, including policies related to rent uniformity in mobile home parks. The MHI argues that rent uniformity can have unintended consequences, such as higher rents for those least able to afford them.