Tag Archives: TSA

Three POSITIVE Data Points … Back to Normal Readings…

Posted on May 4, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Enough of all the slowing talk and R – Word discussion…. it’s coming and we all know it…. BUT

Let’s have some fun and look at some very positive data points

TSA Throughput Update

Wow, back to almost normal… this is 2019 versus 2021 … looks like we are hitting the skies…

Guess what, this is without a lot of business travelers…

Way to go Families, you are doing your thing…

Newbies, here are 10 prior reviews for your perusal … none look as good as this one- YAY

Indeed Job Openings

After multiple reviews here upon getting copyright authority, this most recent is looking awesome….

Major metropolitan areas, not only almost doubling in job openings post lockdown, but looking at the lack of steeping of the curve (far right) job fills are on the rise as well!

Marine Traffic – C/O Marine Traffic.com

Almost went with the Flight Aware map, but since we already know TSA Throughput is rocking from our first noted graph, let’s go to the waters….

This is screened for Cargo Vessels (stuff) and Tankers (Oil and the like) ONLY….

Supply chain bottlenecks, look out … there is relief on the horizon….

There you have it, some very good positives to go with for your hump day viewing….

Have a Great “Positives” Day!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

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Posted in Economy, General Financial Planning, Investing/Financial Planning, Market Comments

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TSA Throughput Update … Are We Traveling Again? Sorta …

Posted on November 8, 2021 by | Leave a comment

As mentioned last Friday, with travels under the belt. wonder of the actual number of bodies headed back to the airports was born.

No doubt, there are fewer flights, less direct and certainly less convenient from a personal sample standpoint… oh and a lot more delays and changes….

A click over to the TSA government website for an updated graph…oh, thank goodness the formatting is better, making the graph much easier to create in short order and accurately (hat tip JP) … those with permanent memories of our posts may recall a web site mentioned here that was neat and had all sorts of cool features…. which is now subscription based…. grrr …. Not to worry, new TSA Formatting to the rescue…

Updated TSA Throughput as of 11-6-21 – Getting Closer

While at a Halloween get together, the night before a trip, mention of the up coming trip(s) garnered multiple comments from former road warrior travelers (weekly) that they were permanently grounded and had no plans or intentions to move from the Virtual meeting to the actual in flesh….

Wonder if my small sample size means the difference noted in the graph above is from the Business Traveler… were not very many on my small sample size!

Have a Great “TSA Updated Traveler” Day!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

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Posted in Investing/Financial Planning, John Kvale, Personal

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Another New Economic Measuring Stick Care of DOT – Department of Transportation … Highway Miles Driven and Prior Year Comparisons …

Posted on July 28, 2021 by | Leave a comment

My absolute first question was where the heck do they get this data from?

TSA – Which we have been monitoring for some time is easy …. Checkpoints!

Ah Ha …. This from the DOT FAQ

The TVT report is based on traffic data from the Highway Performance Monitoring System and on data submitted to the FHWA by State highway agencies throughout the entire U.S. The State highway agencies collect the data through permanent automatic traffic recorders (ATR) on public roadways.

TVT is the abbreviation for Traffic Volume Trends.

All Roads, Urban and Rural Comparison

All Roads:

Urban

Rural

Makes some sense after you think about it that Rural traffic has bounced back and is tracking almost back to normal…. BUT Urban areas, with workers still working from home, lagging!

Latest Kastle Back to Work Tracker Stubbornly stuck below 50% Across the Country

Another fun Economic related item to monitor moving forward!

Have a Great “DOT Road Traveling” Update!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

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Q 2 2021 Review – Return to Normal, Inflation Here to Stay or Transitory

Posted on July 12, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Slowly Returning to Normal, or Some Similarities

With hindsight available as our measuring stick, it appears that sometime between March and April earlier this year things across the country really began to return to some type of normal.

As noted in our blog at street-cents.com and in the prior newsletter TSA throughput a measurement of airport travel looks to possibly eclipse 2019 highs later this year.

Restaurants began opening, some earlier and some much later, depending on the geographic location with patrons welcoming their reopening.

Uncertainty remains on the remote versus office environment. Most think the new normal will not be a complete office environment, but some blend of remote since it is readily acceptable and well tested.

Inflation, Here to Stay or Transitory?

As discussed in detail in our latest Q 3 2021 Newsletter, the most prevalent debate at this moment among market participants is the topic of inflation and it’s staying power, or just transitioning through. The importance of this subject is directly related to the FOMC, chaired by Jerome Powell and the timing of his reduced stimulus.  All eyes are on the inflation debate and the timing of the decrease in stimulus and will be sensitive to timing changes.

Not surprisingly economic numbers roared as they met favorable comparisons from last year, but in very recent days, have given the appearance of a return to normalcy already, decreasing concerns of longer-term inflation.

Capital Markets being forward looking are now trying to see what is around the next corner. As earnings continue to return to normal, valuations are finally beginning to be decreased from extremely stretched proportions and as long as earnings outpace returns a continuation of this should occur.

Time is really our friend, and once again the good news is, this will all play out in quarters rather than years. Things can certainly change quickly, and it is not a time to swing for the fences, which we never do!

Have a terrific summer and talk to you at the beginning of fall.

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

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Posted in Clients/Clients Only, Economy, FOMC, Investing/Financial Planning, Market Comments, Performance Report Cover Letter

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Interesting Fleet (Boat) Monitoring Site MarineTraffic.com – The Worlds Water Transportation

Posted on June 16, 2021 by | Leave a comment

We continue to find very neat websites that are great for monitoring various types of population and transit….

First it was the TSA its self….

Then a VP seeing our research showed us her company website that has fancy enhanced features at Fligence.com

Then we stumbled upon the Kastle back to work monitor…

Then Indeed job openings indexes

Now another new tracker… but this time boats!

Marine Traffic – Marinetraffic.com

Last week on an Institutional Investor conference call, one of the presenters mentioned watching Marinetraffic.com

Music to our ears…. another cool way to review the Economy and world transit.

The following is from the website, but there is also a very neat downloadable cell app, that has most of the same features.

With a monthly subscription (certainly a Naval person’s must) you can slice and dice the worlds naval transit in almost any way one would want….

Without a subscription, our situation, there is still a TON of neat information— on the live site you can hover over each boat and get more information!

All Ships

Cargo Ships

Pattern is very interesting, looks like close to shore for protection?

Tankers – Oil, LNG and other similar commodity transportation

More direct and less shore line hugging- interesting – maybe they are bigger?

Fishing Boats – How neat is that!

Satellite tracks these guys …certainly in areas that would be expected- warm!

USA Coasts– Wow – Gulf of Mexico

Look for us to review this in the future….

Sure wished we would have known of this before, but better late than never!

Have a Great “Marine Traffic” Day!

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

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Extended Tax Season Finish Line, New Neat Tracking Site Found … Friday

Posted on June 11, 2021 by | Leave a comment

With an original Mid-March Corporate Tax Deadline, a regular estimated tax (ES 2021) April deadline … a most states extend 1040 to May deadline and then a June Taxes deadline for Texas and a few other states this could have been the longest tax season ever!

Next week marks the final full finish line of this most confusing and marathon like tax filing year. Thank you very much for your collective patience as it was very confusing to all across the country.

Possible New Economic Tracker

Next week we hope to preview another newly found very cool website that can monitor indirectly the economy, this one … unlike our TSA tracker… does not involving airplanes but boats! With a little luck we will get copyright privileges and can show you directly.

Ahhh … but that is next week, today is a Friday heading into an almost summer weekend. As mentioned near Memorial Day, a hope for an Ark …the rain has stopped …it’s still very wet here but slowly drying …some monster mosquitos that can carry small pets away …. But all good!

Have a great Friday a Super Weekend and talk to you next week!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

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Posted in Economy, Investing/Financial Planning, Market Comments, Tax Related

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Memorial Day Weekend, School’s Out, Office Hours, TSA Throughput Update WOW! , The Ark of Texas

Posted on May 26, 2021 by | Leave a comment

We are happy to give honor to all those who server in the military and especially those fallen during their service. You give us the ability to live our life safe, and proudly…

Memorial Day

Thank you for your service!

Memorial Day Honored

Memorial Day is honored on Monday May 31 2021

Banks, Government offices, Capital Markets and our office will be closed as well

School Schedule – Done Tomorrow – Out of Office Friday

For the first time ever for my gang and likely for the rest of the office, all of our kids are out by tomorrow, mid day at the latest!

With a half day on Thursday heading into the honored weekend, we are planning on being out of the office on Friday and will only be very lightly tethered.

TSA Throughput Update – For Those Flyers

Earlier this week, a nice comment email from a Clemente at www.Fligence.com came through noting the work we had done on TSA Throughput….

After a few exchanged emails, she allowed us to reproduce her company TSA throughput information here with credits of course….

We encourage those interested and especially those that are starting to travel again to go to her company website as you can drill down to your specific airport for latest TSA numbers, daily and even hourly for your travel planning purposes–fligence.com

Timely for those that may be traveling via air this week … with air support personal likely still at low capacity, we are getting closer to full bookings (seems unbelievable from a year ago!)

Lighter Blue 2021 line is their Future Estimates

Ark of Texas

As mentioned frequently, we are an outside family…. actually everyone at our firm are outside people and their families too!

For those 1000 or so followers in other places of the country, there is some weird storm system that is STUCK over Texas.

No Sun….

Lot’s of Rain…

Grrrrrr…….

Lemon Aid from Lemons …. Grass is growing if it does not float away to your neighbors yard!

Have a Great Rest of the Week, and Memorial Day – Talk Next Week!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

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TSA Latest Throughput (Corrected Graph), Indeed Job Listing, Kastle Back To Work Update … Trifecta Bundle … Friday

Posted on December 18, 2020 by | Leave a comment

As mentioned on Wednesday’s Slow Moe Money Post, this was actually scheduled for the Hump Day, but was ousted due to our continued snail findings of overwhelmed financial institutions across every aspect of the financial world.

With that in mind, this is a bit of a heavier Friday, but all of these missed the Newsletter due, once again, to your great experiences and questions!

TSA Throughput Updates

While not knowing of this data prior to 2020, we have enjoyed monitoring it greatly….

Hat Tip JP and “The Brain” for noticing my bad data chart and repairing … now we are cooking!

While passenger count is gaining steam, especially notice Thanksgiving Holidays ….

We are still well behind 2019, “Normal” numbers!

Vaccine should help, end of year Holidays will be interesting… not to worry we are so enamored you will certainly see a review here!

Indeeds Job Posting Update – Global and Local

In another fascinating find, and once approved from the company for reproduction, we are just at the tip of the iceberg of this data, as there are well over 100 data bases …. as mentioned here, yep we have reviewed all and so far are just monitoring this Global…

This data comes from Indeed’s two research sites https://www.hiringlab.org/ and the raw data site https://github.com/hiring-lab/data , all of this is put together in our favorite St Louis Federal Reserve FRED website.

Go Australia, all the way back to flat or just above — Nice!

And our second favorite, our own back yard of Cities here in Texas!

Go San Antonio- you guys rock and are almost back to whole as well.

KASTLE Back to Work Barometer

Frist mentioned here, this fantastic tracker is from none other than a security company…what a great way to utilize your inside knowledge for the help of many!

Watch out if you are buying, renting or expanding the commercial footprint – this is no where near Indeed’s job posting bounce all the way back!

Here is a link to a more interactive Kastle graph that you can hover over for exact information.

Again, well done to all!

Heavy for a Friday, but sometimes that occurs….

Have a Good Weekend and Happy Holiday Season!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

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Interesting Consumer Purchasing Item… Upon Review, Makes Total Sense!

Posted on November 4, 2020 by | Leave a comment

As you may know we have found several interesting items to follow this year….

First was the TSA throughput, measuring the upward trend in traffic passing through TSA security … here, here and here

Then we stumbled upon the Kastle back to work index, showing commercial office vacancy rates of the ten largest cities – interesting Kastle is a security monitoring company among other things, but hence the ability to share the data.

Used Auto Prices

Recently through the grapevine we heard stories of used auto purchase increases, which make sense as folks exit the larger metro areas and possibly avoid crowded public transportation …

So here is a longer dated chart …

Let’s look a little closer …magnifying the most recent activity

So this is the Price Index for Used Cars and Trucks from the St. Louis Fed (FRED) database….

Surprising at first, but upon second thought…. not surprising at all !

We will keep track, and hope you find it maybe just a little bit as interesting as we do!

Have a Great “Used Car and Truck Flying off the shelf” Day!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

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Posted in Economy, Education, General Financial Planning, Investing/Financial Planning

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Traveling Update, Are We Traveling Yet? TSA Throughput Update and General Thoughts on Travels from the Field

Posted on October 19, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Just after The United States started limiting travel we Luckily stumbled across TSA throughput which measures air travelers going through TSA checkpoints.

Here is a link to our prior four articles … and with an intent of updating for our collective review every 30 to 60 days we accidentally let this one go 78 days.

First the 2020 numbers noting the dramatic drop-off and then the continued increase. It appears that we are somewhat leveling off and it will be very interesting to see what this looks like as we head into the fall and winter season. On the one hand every day gets us closer to a cure and on the other hand the cold and flu season may cause some to limit their travel.

Here is a more telling chart which shows the difference from last year and this year, while we’re far from back to the norm we are continuing to gain strength and once again it will be interesting to see how long it takes us to get back to the 2019 numbers.

In talking to friends, colleagues, and clients, the general business traveler seems to be ready to travel approximately spring of next year, and many have traveled this year, for the record but with a few exceptions, all felt safe and had good experiences, especially on flights with no center seat seating.

Have a Great “TSA Updated” Day!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

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Posted in Investing/Financial Planning, Market Comments

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