Unlike some of the others you see on TV, Steve Liesman, the economist-in-chief at CNBC, is an excellent reporter (Full disclosure: I know Steve and for years have had the opportunity to talk with him in front of and behind the camera).

The LA Times this morning has what has to be taken as a gloomy report about the economy, citing an UCLA study that says a recession is possible in the not too distant future.

The story talks about falling housing prices and declining new home starts as reasons for the economic troubles. Here's are the two key sentences:

Does anyone else think that Treasury Secretary Paulson is doing everything possible not to be involved with domestic economic issues? 

News reports this morning said that the price per gallon for regular gasoline had risen 6 cents in the past two weeks.

I like low prices on things I buy as much as anyone, but here's the most basic question no one ever seems to ask when discussing energy prices: If consumers keep paying higher prices for gasoline, why should the oil companies do anything other than raise them?