Author Archives: Mike O'Hara

Our objective with The Big Story is to discuss an issue of at least potential importance to the greater market for consumer products every week. Given this goal, we rarely stray into areas of life and death (though we have written extensively on the impact to the economy of the COVID-19 pandemic).  Without a doubt, […]

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On November 5, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which President Biden will sign when Congress returns to session this week.   If the associated revenue changes are approved through the budget reconciliation process, the U.S. will commence what The Brookings Institute calls “a building spree larger than what happened during the New Deal.” […]

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In April 2020, Daphne Howland of Retail Dive wrote “Few retailers will come out of this unprecedented moment unscathed, but department stores are at a point of no return. None can go back to business as usual. Some may not come back at all.” What a difference a year makes. Now, in the face of […]

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As the United States aggressively rolls out vaccines, the closures and restrictions that crippled the economy for more than a year are being scaled back.  This is great news for the economy, full stop.  The effect of government stimulus activity, coupled with resilient businesses who deployed new tactics ranging from work-from-home, to outdoor dining, to […]

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Owners considering selling their business face the specter of a purchase price reduction that could drop net proceeds by as much as 20 percent.  Currently, the capital gains rate is 23.8% for most sales, counting the net investment income charge.  During his campaign, President Joseph Biden proposed increasing the top long-term capital gains tax rate […]

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