On libcom board (and also in the latest issue of the journal Aufheben), claims have been made, with supposedly supporting evidence, that corporations are making record profits.
A used named "CRUD" posted these links:
<i>https://www.creditwritedowns.com/2010/07/record-profits-but-hoarding-cas... [5]
https://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20Editorials/2010/August/19%20o/Cris... [6]
https://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/22/business/la-fi-goldman-sachs22-... [7]
https://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2010-01-12-fed-profits_N.htm<br></i> [8]
Now, my interpretation of figures like this is that since capitalist production is extremely entwined with speculation, it's extremely difficult to extract the rate of profit from actual production out of the raw profit figures corporations post. Profits can include hedged "derivative" investments and similar things.
I would say capsizing world markets are much better guide to the condition of capitalist profits.
However, I think this an important question for us to keep an eye on. Anyone done research in this direction?