I keep talking about my “past lives,” and in one of those lives, I was an economic analyst. That was in 1969, right after I had completed my first course in macroeconomics.
When the US government “prints” $2 trillion of funny money, and then just gives it away to ease the pain and fear they caused with the COVIDCrisis, you’re going to have supply shortages and inflation. Any freshman Macro 101 student knows that.
But, when the US government prints $6 trillion of funny money, and gives in all away, that government is going to cause worldwide supply shortages and hyperinflation. Again, any young adult with half a brain might know that, or they might be able to be taught that ... assuming you can pry them away from TicToc and Instagram for twenty minutes.
1000% Agree. There's an article (behind a paywall) that shows how screens are actually giving us a FALSE REALITY since what we're seeing is only VISUAL and not actually EXPERIENCED
What keeps getting dropped is the cost of servicing this monumental debt. More debt, more inflation, ever skyrocketing amounts of interest to finance this debt. Soon interest alone will be the greatest fed expenditure, and it will continue to climb in a choking spiral.
Times will only get worse as the feds will no longer be able to support the myriad social programs. Another avenue to collapse of our republic. Under the dems, it appears all their roads end in collapse.
For Americans, regardless of party, we are either tax payers or we are on the dole. Reality is very different for those of us who watch our tax dollars being frittered away on non-American items. Those who pay should have more right to bitch. Key word, should.
I live in a Rhino district, your point is well taken. Historically the budget was hashed out with social programs for the left, military for the right, but I don't see that moving forward. Both will have to be axed.
For those of us who see money, wealth, as actually the embodiment of surplus energy, this net zero road is the most destructive of all. There is no way to continue as available energy drops. No different than not long ago, when livestock ruled production. Take away the matched horse pair, and the farm collapsed.
It wasn't that long ago. On the kitchen wall is the framed bill that was pasted around the town for auction of our great grand parents farm. "Monday, February 25, 1946" in the boldest letters. Under that "2 Horses, 2 Cows, 1 Heifer, Tools" in slightly smaller type. "1 team matched horses, 8-9 years old, weight 1700...." Story of the times, the bill explained great grandfather had passed, wife to sell the farm along the Erie Canal. That was it, what was a very prosperous farm with the energy source of the day, next to the cheapest market transport system then known.
Seems like I saw on Zero Hedge the other day that US debt to GDP is now about 120 or so. Not good. Not sustainable. Especially since recession will take it to 130-140 since GDP drops and debt load increases during recession...
People have been predicting the imminent bankruptcy of the US federal government since as long as I can remember. It’s sort of like how they keep predicting the imminent environmental catastrophe due to “climate change.” It never happens.
It's an exaggeration to say IMMINENT bankruptcy has been predicted for as long as you can remember. I will agree, there have been plenty of dire warnings about long term effects of excessive debt, and none has ever come to pass.
MS above notes US debt to GDP ratio is now about 120 or so. I haven't confirmed it, but that sounds about right. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but we haven't been in that territory since after WWII ended.
It's getting close to the zone where Greece was a few years ago. Greece didn't go bankrupt, but the government laid off a bunch of bureaucrats, people had to pay higher taxes, and the ordinary average Greek citizen suffered. Badly.
If you want to believe nothing is different and it's the usual fear-mongering, that's on you. I hope you're right. But I won't be shocked if we get into the kinds of hard times not seen since the Great Depression..
Well, that sort of depends on your definition of “imminent,” doesn’t it? Imminent means something very different in the world of finance than it does in, let’s say, geology.
My point is still valid. For example, people have been predicting the “imminent” bankruptcy of the Social Security system since the 70s. It hasn’t happened yet. People predicted the imminent collapse of international banking before Y2K. It didn’t happen.
Predict anything you want. But when it doesn’t happen, please admit you were wrong, okay.
It may not be bankruptcy. More like a slow death with many suffering as we decline further and further. Like climate change, it's not going to happen all at once.
Go look up Martin Armstrong. He did a interview with Del Bigtree on highwire if you go through the episodes. His movie the forecaster is harder to find to watch. Details that the cycle of massive printing of cash is the last stage to a governments collapse and massive inflation. Heed Dr. Malones advice assets that are hard.
The US has defaulted on its debt twice: FDR banned the private ownership of gold, demanded that the holders of gold sell it to the US gov't for 20 cents an ounce, then the gov't turned around and sold it for (I can't remember exactly) for MUCH more. Second time, Nixon took us off the gold standard. Remember the inflation? I had money saved in the Deutche Bank in New York to spend on studying at a university in Germany, and lost 30 percent of it OVER NIGHT. And that was mild, compared to what is going to happen to us soon.
The key is losing the dollar as the world reserve currency. As a trading currency, it is in high demand all over the world. But when no one wants it, all of those dollars will come home. Add to that our inability to service national debt ( annually now $1 trillion in interest), you can see disaster looming.
True, I recall Paul Tsongas and the "bipartisan" Concord Coalition, with the debt approaching 3 trillion. There's an inflation indicator for you-3 trillion is spent overnite in a bill with Biden. None the less, indicators show governments cant survive when debt surpasses GDP, as is now the case, and debt expected to grow.
I have watched the land of my birth Zimbabwe disintegrate these past 40 years. It is utterly incomprehensible that supposedly and potentially sophisticated countries seem to be hell bent on following the same course.
Hello Dr. Malone & Jill. You two might not have degrees in the dismal science, economics, but this article sure reads that way. My undergraduate degree is in economics & public policy analysis. So, my reading this article kind of makes me feel this was written by Peter Navarro, Ph.D., economics (Harvard University), & Professor Emeritus, economics and public policy analysis, University of California, Irvine.
I'm not suggesting at all Dr. Navarro had anything to do with your's & Jill's economic analysis, here written. I'm just complimenting both you & Jill on what I feel is a well thought out analysis any economist would be happy to claim his own. I'd love to see Dr. Navarro chime in on your article. I'm willing to bet he'd agree with me.
I'm a huge fan of Maria Bartiroma's morning programs on the Fox Business Channel, Mornings with Maria. Maria, who I consider to be a genius, offers thoughtful debates on the US economy, with some of the best minds in the business.
Maria is of the mind we're headed for a recession later this year. Her panelists who agree with her often site several factors: rising interest rates created by the Federal Reserve to curb inflation, the inverted yield curve where short term bond interest rates are more attractive to investors than long-term ( &, therefore, lack of funding into the futures bond market due to poor ROI compared to short-term bonds results in less investments in the future). Another point ofter made is the pending refinancing of close to $2 trillion in commercial real estate mortgages due in 2023 (by commercial real estate investors overlevaged & very possibly unable to refinance their commercial properties, causing defaults in the crucial part of the US economy).
Dr. Malone, you & Jill have touched upon some of the signs & symptoms of our global US economy that are indeed troubling. And, the advise you give. I believe is solid.
But, one huge problem USA Residents have is living on the very edge, or beyond the edge, of what they can afford financially. And, about 60% of USA Residents have $1000 or less in their bank accounts to rely on. These same Folks are usually maxed out on their credit card debts & paying ridiculously high usury interest rates on their card balances. Loss of a job, even a part-time job, could cause a collapse of their abilities to make the minimum payments on their accumulated debts.
And, the list of indicators goes on & on. Time will tell if Bidenomics succeeds or fails.
But, as you & Jill have suggested, plan for the worst, and hope for best.
Bidenomics has been succeeding and no person with any common sense will say otherwise. Success in this case is the bankrupting of America as planned.
I'm pretty tired of the make believe alternate reality the media and WH pretends we're living in. She started dying with the corporate bailout, a brainchild of those steering the GR ship. All aboard they holler!
The other big leading indicator in shipping is domestic rail volumes, which are down. Here is a nice summary: https://railfax.transmatch.com/ (choose "total" or "all" in the dropdown on the right for big picture)
Very true. The insurance industry spreads all risks over all markets but will never admit that it does this. Your pet insurance doubled? Ask why and you will get some story like “it’s those damn dachsunds”. The real reason: That Florida hurricane or those California fires, or excess mortality(in humans). The insurance premium tide lifts all boats.
Another reason rates rising? Insurance companies make their money investing those dollars you give them for coverage. That is where their profits come from. So, if the economy goes into the dumpster their profits go down and. rates go up. Also they are taking big hits on life insurance they sell to companies for their employees. Those are usually safe policies in that the average of insured is at or below 50 so low payout rates except post jab and now they are being gouged there too. Double whammy
And has anyone looked at gas lately? I'm not speaking of the gas-lighting gasbags in Washington DC and the media who tell us everything is A-OK. I'm speaking of the stuff that moves America's economy: gasoline. Gas went up A LOT just overnight (now at $4.23/gallon in small-town Idaho).
Yes, definitely noticed - here in North Georgia gas jumped from 2.99 to 3.85 but I also noticed a sign yesterday at a local station - regular was 3.65 if paying cash and 3.85 for credit.
Thanks for the heads up. My area has had some rain and now the yard and pastures are growing again. I'm heading to get gasoline and diesel for my JD mower and Mahindra tractor.
I live in texas, overnight it went from 3.45 to 3.59. Our only grocery store is price gouging. So we go to the next town over to buy groceries and gas. I live in the real world.
Not mentioned in the transportation industry woes is the price of diesel. And shipping, those freighters don't run on air, and CA has the majority of international ports with union longshoreman constantly on strike. When designing the take down of the US and actually the western countries 'they' left nothing to chance, covering every aspect of an economy driven society dependent of the movement of goods. It is 'the master plan of a thousand orchestrated cuts'.
Indeed. Here in Ontario Canada gas prices are insane $1.76 a litre not exactly sure due to dollar exchange plus litre vs gallon, however it was told to us equivalent to over $4.00 US per gallon. We are screwed due to Castro jr. carbon taxes. A total creep, moron, we are waiting to see what his pronouns of choice will be now due to his separation from his wife, a woman. Much love and respect to Drs. Malone. Cheers. God Bless!!
Yes!! We drove through Unionville, VA., two weeks ago. There was a gas station on the corner. The price of gas was $3.55. A week later it was $3.59. Today it was $3.79. Just in two weeks.
Living in one of Montana's famous river corridors which accommodates highways & a major rail line we are used to the horn blowing that takes place as a train runs thru the valley connecting the Port of Seattle with inland destinations. We've noted a significant reduction in train traffic which I've associated with the very same trend you've outlined. There is a definite slow down in the flow of goods.
Another leading economic indicator is the sale of cardboard boxes. Everything ships in cardboard boxes. And the sale of boxes has been down for at least the three months.
You all must know this site is being monitored so I will say what I have to say then pray God blesses and protects it. It's going to sound completely crazy.
I agree being out of debt is a good goal though I know it's hard especially for young families. I wish I had solutions for them.
Being INTJ I am severely afflicted with acute intuition so there have been numerous times in my 76 years that gave me upfront insight and therefore helped me to always have an efficient PLAN B in place.
Historically speaking those who made a difference in turning a bad tide operated in multiple and different ways. Some had to speak out while others worked under the radar. Think the difference between Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Corrie Ten-Boom. The individual challenge is being able to listen to the still small voice and determine your part then do that. No judging those who are doing things differently.
In 1999 I knew ITs who were seriously worried so I chose to be a serious prepper but less about prepping for Dooms Day and more about being able to stay away from the fray. Remember the fights over toilet paper during the covid plandemic? Yeah I avoided that too by seeing the signs in early 2020.
But when the all clear was sounded in 2000, besides having supplies that got us through a couple years of scrimping during a business start up in 2001, I had gained three important skillsets - how to plan for disaster, how to know when to keep my mouth shut about what I am doing and how to pray without ceasing.
Fast forward to 2020, of the friends and family in our tribe who berated the rest of us for refusing the clot shot are now being amazingly silent on the topic. I see that as a good sign though. At least we are no longer at odds with each other. Of those who willingly took the shot and are now dealing with health issues, like aggressive cancer, I choose not to point out their misguided faith and instead pray their eyes are further opened to the tough truth.
Unfortunately the day does come when there are those who refuse to see and are then blinded lest they see but I just keep praying anyway because there is no downside to praying and until the ca-ca hits the rotating blades hope springs eternal.
Listen, obey, trust. We war with dark principalities but God wrote the script so He knows the ending. They can kill my body but there is nothing they can do to my soul. In the meantime I am always working on PLAN B which, for now, is gathering essential things that can be bartered.
It's a Myers-Briggs personality type, 1 of 12, I believe. Stands for some variation of Introverted Intuitive Thinking Judging. I'm somewhere between an INTJ and an INFP (Introverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving).
Jeff Bezos is on record telling people, starting about 6 months ago or so, not to buy any new vehicles or homes, to save more and spend less. Great advice for anyone. Thank you and Jill for your analysis. It's going to get worse before it gets better: the only question is the timing.
As for cash losing value, young people often have a hard time wrapping their head around it. So I tell my kids the "hamburger story". When I was young my dad and I would go get a McDonalds quality cheeseburger, fries and "big orange" soda. Coins were 90% silver at the time and the meal for both of us cost about 50 cents. That same 90% silver 50 cent piece is now worth about $8 paper dollars...about the same price for the same meal today.
Just a reminder that if you feel an incredible urge to purchase luxury/pleasure items,
such as RVs/ boats/giant SUVs/Big Motor cycles, Go rent one first to learn exactly how cost effective it is to have one sitting on your driveway and are able to use once in a while as you make payments on items that lose value/need upkeep/insurance and fees.
It also provides the biggest picture to asking the question, do I really need this thing?
What the heck was I thinking? It sits here taking up time/money. I'm stuck selling it.
Been debt free for close to two decades now. LOL, initially it felt like I was poorer since people in debt consider their ability to take on even more debt as part of their wealth, and of course I now had to cut a check to buy a new car or whatever. But all one has to do is run the numbers to see what one actually pays for things on credit, and its clear to see you are owned by the banks...and your "wealth" is actually theirs.....
Sorry about the trolls Doc!!! Some people have to make everyone as unhappy as they are. Love you work and this article!!! I say pray and prep!!! My prayers to you and Jill!!
The de-banking wave in Britain serves as a warning sign for us, as Mike Lindell has experienced. Coutts Bank in Britain didn't like Nigel Farage's politics and they cut him off. But he fought back and now the CEO of the parent company and the Coutts boss are both gone. It just takes courage and grit, like the Malones show us every day, and, per John Paul Jones, [we] have not yet begun to fight!
Indeed!!! Comprehend two languages plus hand commands. There are two words, in that second language, you never want to hear with a 100lb. Akita. Edit- And, I would highly recommend anyone to never harm a child in front of them…Ballistic, Fast, Agile, Hard Headed, Determined…Edit - And, Very Intelligent. 🤣🔥🏴☠️, Ed
Good observations but needs to be tempered with measures of financial stress, Real Personal Income(RPI) and employment trends. Global trade has shifted towards on-shoring to protect supply chains. With China no longer a trusted partner much is repositioning which adds to local employment and personal income with the same true for the US. US employment continues to trend higher as does inflation adjusted personal income i.e., Real Personal Income. The mortgage, commercial debt and credit card delinquency rates remain historically well below threat levels. All is good for a couple of years yet despite the many forecasts by experts.
We need to see RPI decline, retail sales to decline, employment growth to turn flat and delinquency rates to rise to levels reminiscent of the inception of prior recessions before the next downturn.
So much forecast in the media and so little on point. Investors must always to do their own work but the indicators mentioned are very fundamental and reliable. This data and much more is freely available at https://fred.stlouisfed.org/
There is great consolidation in the stock market with fewer and fewer corporations contributing to the upside! When the money men feel it has peaked and they pull the plug, it will be a rapid down hill event! Amazon, Apple and Microsoft will be the last ones standing!
I keep talking about my “past lives,” and in one of those lives, I was an economic analyst. That was in 1969, right after I had completed my first course in macroeconomics.
When the US government “prints” $2 trillion of funny money, and then just gives it away to ease the pain and fear they caused with the COVIDCrisis, you’re going to have supply shortages and inflation. Any freshman Macro 101 student knows that.
But, when the US government prints $6 trillion of funny money, and gives in all away, that government is going to cause worldwide supply shortages and hyperinflation. Again, any young adult with half a brain might know that, or they might be able to be taught that ... assuming you can pry them away from TicToc and Instagram for twenty minutes.
Not likely. Neil Postman was right 40 years ago. We are indeed amusing ourselves to death.
Bread and circuses...
1000% Agree. There's an article (behind a paywall) that shows how screens are actually giving us a FALSE REALITY since what we're seeing is only VISUAL and not actually EXPERIENCED
https://unorthodoxy.substack.com/p/our-ocularcentric-society
Postman was an interesting thinker. I seldom hear his name mentioned.
What keeps getting dropped is the cost of servicing this monumental debt. More debt, more inflation, ever skyrocketing amounts of interest to finance this debt. Soon interest alone will be the greatest fed expenditure, and it will continue to climb in a choking spiral.
Times will only get worse as the feds will no longer be able to support the myriad social programs. Another avenue to collapse of our republic. Under the dems, it appears all their roads end in collapse.
Yes, but R's haven't been any better. Historically they've spent more on the military. But both are guilty, guilty, guilty!!
There is no right or left anymore. There is the Uniparty and all the rest.
For Americans, regardless of party, we are either tax payers or we are on the dole. Reality is very different for those of us who watch our tax dollars being frittered away on non-American items. Those who pay should have more right to bitch. Key word, should.
Bullseye 🎯
I live in a Rhino district, your point is well taken. Historically the budget was hashed out with social programs for the left, military for the right, but I don't see that moving forward. Both will have to be axed.
For those of us who see money, wealth, as actually the embodiment of surplus energy, this net zero road is the most destructive of all. There is no way to continue as available energy drops. No different than not long ago, when livestock ruled production. Take away the matched horse pair, and the farm collapsed.
It wasn't that long ago. On the kitchen wall is the framed bill that was pasted around the town for auction of our great grand parents farm. "Monday, February 25, 1946" in the boldest letters. Under that "2 Horses, 2 Cows, 1 Heifer, Tools" in slightly smaller type. "1 team matched horses, 8-9 years old, weight 1700...." Story of the times, the bill explained great grandfather had passed, wife to sell the farm along the Erie Canal. That was it, what was a very prosperous farm with the energy source of the day, next to the cheapest market transport system then known.
Seems like I saw on Zero Hedge the other day that US debt to GDP is now about 120 or so. Not good. Not sustainable. Especially since recession will take it to 130-140 since GDP drops and debt load increases during recession...
People have been predicting the imminent bankruptcy of the US federal government since as long as I can remember. It’s sort of like how they keep predicting the imminent environmental catastrophe due to “climate change.” It never happens.
It's an exaggeration to say IMMINENT bankruptcy has been predicted for as long as you can remember. I will agree, there have been plenty of dire warnings about long term effects of excessive debt, and none has ever come to pass.
MS above notes US debt to GDP ratio is now about 120 or so. I haven't confirmed it, but that sounds about right. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but we haven't been in that territory since after WWII ended.
It's getting close to the zone where Greece was a few years ago. Greece didn't go bankrupt, but the government laid off a bunch of bureaucrats, people had to pay higher taxes, and the ordinary average Greek citizen suffered. Badly.
If you want to believe nothing is different and it's the usual fear-mongering, that's on you. I hope you're right. But I won't be shocked if we get into the kinds of hard times not seen since the Great Depression..
Well, that sort of depends on your definition of “imminent,” doesn’t it? Imminent means something very different in the world of finance than it does in, let’s say, geology.
My point is still valid. For example, people have been predicting the “imminent” bankruptcy of the Social Security system since the 70s. It hasn’t happened yet. People predicted the imminent collapse of international banking before Y2K. It didn’t happen.
Predict anything you want. But when it doesn’t happen, please admit you were wrong, okay.
There are many examples in history where it did happen. The U. S. A. is no exception to the laws of economics. So beware!
It may not be bankruptcy. More like a slow death with many suffering as we decline further and further. Like climate change, it's not going to happen all at once.
Go look up Martin Armstrong. He did a interview with Del Bigtree on highwire if you go through the episodes. His movie the forecaster is harder to find to watch. Details that the cycle of massive printing of cash is the last stage to a governments collapse and massive inflation. Heed Dr. Malones advice assets that are hard.
The US has defaulted on its debt twice: FDR banned the private ownership of gold, demanded that the holders of gold sell it to the US gov't for 20 cents an ounce, then the gov't turned around and sold it for (I can't remember exactly) for MUCH more. Second time, Nixon took us off the gold standard. Remember the inflation? I had money saved in the Deutche Bank in New York to spend on studying at a university in Germany, and lost 30 percent of it OVER NIGHT. And that was mild, compared to what is going to happen to us soon.
The key is losing the dollar as the world reserve currency. As a trading currency, it is in high demand all over the world. But when no one wants it, all of those dollars will come home. Add to that our inability to service national debt ( annually now $1 trillion in interest), you can see disaster looming.
True, I recall Paul Tsongas and the "bipartisan" Concord Coalition, with the debt approaching 3 trillion. There's an inflation indicator for you-3 trillion is spent overnite in a bill with Biden. None the less, indicators show governments cant survive when debt surpasses GDP, as is now the case, and debt expected to grow.
Did you notice, we have a "newbie"? Better get on it...
I think we need to also look at the Feds as well because they're a source of a lot of our financial turmoil: https://unorthodoxy.substack.com/p/the-federal-reserves-plan-for-inflation
For several years now it has been using BlackRock as its mentor. That's telling.
I have watched the land of my birth Zimbabwe disintegrate these past 40 years. It is utterly incomprehensible that supposedly and potentially sophisticated countries seem to be hell bent on following the same course.
We all love a great "Bean counter"!
Where would we be without rock solid information data/
Hello Dr. Malone & Jill. You two might not have degrees in the dismal science, economics, but this article sure reads that way. My undergraduate degree is in economics & public policy analysis. So, my reading this article kind of makes me feel this was written by Peter Navarro, Ph.D., economics (Harvard University), & Professor Emeritus, economics and public policy analysis, University of California, Irvine.
I'm not suggesting at all Dr. Navarro had anything to do with your's & Jill's economic analysis, here written. I'm just complimenting both you & Jill on what I feel is a well thought out analysis any economist would be happy to claim his own. I'd love to see Dr. Navarro chime in on your article. I'm willing to bet he'd agree with me.
I'm a huge fan of Maria Bartiroma's morning programs on the Fox Business Channel, Mornings with Maria. Maria, who I consider to be a genius, offers thoughtful debates on the US economy, with some of the best minds in the business.
Maria is of the mind we're headed for a recession later this year. Her panelists who agree with her often site several factors: rising interest rates created by the Federal Reserve to curb inflation, the inverted yield curve where short term bond interest rates are more attractive to investors than long-term ( &, therefore, lack of funding into the futures bond market due to poor ROI compared to short-term bonds results in less investments in the future). Another point ofter made is the pending refinancing of close to $2 trillion in commercial real estate mortgages due in 2023 (by commercial real estate investors overlevaged & very possibly unable to refinance their commercial properties, causing defaults in the crucial part of the US economy).
Dr. Malone, you & Jill have touched upon some of the signs & symptoms of our global US economy that are indeed troubling. And, the advise you give. I believe is solid.
But, one huge problem USA Residents have is living on the very edge, or beyond the edge, of what they can afford financially. And, about 60% of USA Residents have $1000 or less in their bank accounts to rely on. These same Folks are usually maxed out on their credit card debts & paying ridiculously high usury interest rates on their card balances. Loss of a job, even a part-time job, could cause a collapse of their abilities to make the minimum payments on their accumulated debts.
And, the list of indicators goes on & on. Time will tell if Bidenomics succeeds or fails.
But, as you & Jill have suggested, plan for the worst, and hope for best.
Thank you this compliment!
You're welcome! I truly enjoy reading your articles which I find incredibly well thought out, factual, & w/o political bias.
Michael, do you know that Peter Navarro has written an article with Dr. Malone?
Multiple articles
I did not, but it doesn't surprise me. Great minds think alike.
Michael, I'm glad to see you on board, it seems you are new?
I am.
Bidenomics has been succeeding and no person with any common sense will say otherwise. Success in this case is the bankrupting of America as planned.
I'm pretty tired of the make believe alternate reality the media and WH pretends we're living in. She started dying with the corporate bailout, a brainchild of those steering the GR ship. All aboard they holler!
Soros-DA criminality in leftist cities collapses the over-leveraged commercial real estate.
BlackRock, etc. - like Marcus Crassus’ fire sale purchases in Rome swoops in to purchase at pennies and voila! - instant 15 minute city.
The other big leading indicator in shipping is domestic rail volumes, which are down. Here is a nice summary: https://railfax.transmatch.com/ (choose "total" or "all" in the dropdown on the right for big picture)
And some of those volumes were actually off the rails.
Per multiple life insurance companies, the death rate has increased 40%.. .dead people don’t purchase stuff.
I'm thinking the 30% rise in car insurance rates is simply a way for the industry to try and paper over those losses.
Very true. The insurance industry spreads all risks over all markets but will never admit that it does this. Your pet insurance doubled? Ask why and you will get some story like “it’s those damn dachsunds”. The real reason: That Florida hurricane or those California fires, or excess mortality(in humans). The insurance premium tide lifts all boats.
Another reason rates rising? Insurance companies make their money investing those dollars you give them for coverage. That is where their profits come from. So, if the economy goes into the dumpster their profits go down and. rates go up. Also they are taking big hits on life insurance they sell to companies for their employees. Those are usually safe policies in that the average of insured is at or below 50 so low payout rates except post jab and now they are being gouged there too. Double whammy
And has anyone looked at gas lately? I'm not speaking of the gas-lighting gasbags in Washington DC and the media who tell us everything is A-OK. I'm speaking of the stuff that moves America's economy: gasoline. Gas went up A LOT just overnight (now at $4.23/gallon in small-town Idaho).
Yes, definitely noticed - here in North Georgia gas jumped from 2.99 to 3.85 but I also noticed a sign yesterday at a local station - regular was 3.65 if paying cash and 3.85 for credit.
Thanks for the heads up. My area has had some rain and now the yard and pastures are growing again. I'm heading to get gasoline and diesel for my JD mower and Mahindra tractor.
I live in texas, overnight it went from 3.45 to 3.59. Our only grocery store is price gouging. So we go to the next town over to buy groceries and gas. I live in the real world.
Not mentioned in the transportation industry woes is the price of diesel. And shipping, those freighters don't run on air, and CA has the majority of international ports with union longshoreman constantly on strike. When designing the take down of the US and actually the western countries 'they' left nothing to chance, covering every aspect of an economy driven society dependent of the movement of goods. It is 'the master plan of a thousand orchestrated cuts'.
Indeed. Here in Ontario Canada gas prices are insane $1.76 a litre not exactly sure due to dollar exchange plus litre vs gallon, however it was told to us equivalent to over $4.00 US per gallon. We are screwed due to Castro jr. carbon taxes. A total creep, moron, we are waiting to see what his pronouns of choice will be now due to his separation from his wife, a woman. Much love and respect to Drs. Malone. Cheers. God Bless!!
Yes!! We drove through Unionville, VA., two weeks ago. There was a gas station on the corner. The price of gas was $3.55. A week later it was $3.59. Today it was $3.79. Just in two weeks.
Living in one of Montana's famous river corridors which accommodates highways & a major rail line we are used to the horn blowing that takes place as a train runs thru the valley connecting the Port of Seattle with inland destinations. We've noted a significant reduction in train traffic which I've associated with the very same trend you've outlined. There is a definite slow down in the flow of goods.
Another leading economic indicator is the sale of cardboard boxes. Everything ships in cardboard boxes. And the sale of boxes has been down for at least the three months.
Wow, what a tidbit! Jim, genius!
You all must know this site is being monitored so I will say what I have to say then pray God blesses and protects it. It's going to sound completely crazy.
I agree being out of debt is a good goal though I know it's hard especially for young families. I wish I had solutions for them.
Being INTJ I am severely afflicted with acute intuition so there have been numerous times in my 76 years that gave me upfront insight and therefore helped me to always have an efficient PLAN B in place.
Historically speaking those who made a difference in turning a bad tide operated in multiple and different ways. Some had to speak out while others worked under the radar. Think the difference between Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Corrie Ten-Boom. The individual challenge is being able to listen to the still small voice and determine your part then do that. No judging those who are doing things differently.
In 1999 I knew ITs who were seriously worried so I chose to be a serious prepper but less about prepping for Dooms Day and more about being able to stay away from the fray. Remember the fights over toilet paper during the covid plandemic? Yeah I avoided that too by seeing the signs in early 2020.
But when the all clear was sounded in 2000, besides having supplies that got us through a couple years of scrimping during a business start up in 2001, I had gained three important skillsets - how to plan for disaster, how to know when to keep my mouth shut about what I am doing and how to pray without ceasing.
Fast forward to 2020, of the friends and family in our tribe who berated the rest of us for refusing the clot shot are now being amazingly silent on the topic. I see that as a good sign though. At least we are no longer at odds with each other. Of those who willingly took the shot and are now dealing with health issues, like aggressive cancer, I choose not to point out their misguided faith and instead pray their eyes are further opened to the tough truth.
Unfortunately the day does come when there are those who refuse to see and are then blinded lest they see but I just keep praying anyway because there is no downside to praying and until the ca-ca hits the rotating blades hope springs eternal.
Listen, obey, trust. We war with dark principalities but God wrote the script so He knows the ending. They can kill my body but there is nothing they can do to my soul. In the meantime I am always working on PLAN B which, for now, is gathering essential things that can be bartered.
It's a Myers-Briggs personality type, 1 of 12, I believe. Stands for some variation of Introverted Intuitive Thinking Judging. I'm somewhere between an INTJ and an INFP (Introverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving).
Being INTJ, I totally understand what you said. LOL!
😂
Jeff Bezos is on record telling people, starting about 6 months ago or so, not to buy any new vehicles or homes, to save more and spend less. Great advice for anyone. Thank you and Jill for your analysis. It's going to get worse before it gets better: the only question is the timing.
Danny Huckabee
the counterpoint is that when inflation kicks in, cash loses value faster than those types of assets do.
As for cash losing value, young people often have a hard time wrapping their head around it. So I tell my kids the "hamburger story". When I was young my dad and I would go get a McDonalds quality cheeseburger, fries and "big orange" soda. Coins were 90% silver at the time and the meal for both of us cost about 50 cents. That same 90% silver 50 cent piece is now worth about $8 paper dollars...about the same price for the same meal today.
super example for coaching!
Just a reminder that if you feel an incredible urge to purchase luxury/pleasure items,
such as RVs/ boats/giant SUVs/Big Motor cycles, Go rent one first to learn exactly how cost effective it is to have one sitting on your driveway and are able to use once in a while as you make payments on items that lose value/need upkeep/insurance and fees.
It also provides the biggest picture to asking the question, do I really need this thing?
What the heck was I thinking? It sits here taking up time/money. I'm stuck selling it.
Jeff Bezos? Why would he be interested in giving financial advise?
Having hard assets is a good thing, cash, not so much. Best is being able to afford both while staying out of debt.
Great advice to avoid debt!
Also check out Global Walkout, which offers practical steps you can take, including KEEP CASH ALIVE! https://globalwalkout.com/
Been debt free for close to two decades now. LOL, initially it felt like I was poorer since people in debt consider their ability to take on even more debt as part of their wealth, and of course I now had to cut a check to buy a new car or whatever. But all one has to do is run the numbers to see what one actually pays for things on credit, and its clear to see you are owned by the banks...and your "wealth" is actually theirs.....
Sorry about the trolls Doc!!! Some people have to make everyone as unhappy as they are. Love you work and this article!!! I say pray and prep!!! My prayers to you and Jill!!
The de-banking wave in Britain serves as a warning sign for us, as Mike Lindell has experienced. Coutts Bank in Britain didn't like Nigel Farage's politics and they cut him off. But he fought back and now the CEO of the parent company and the Coutts boss are both gone. It just takes courage and grit, like the Malones show us every day, and, per John Paul Jones, [we] have not yet begun to fight!
School of Hard Knocks, Fellowship-Trained. Searching for third Pup. I like Dogs better than most people. Ed
Woof!
Indeed!!! Comprehend two languages plus hand commands. There are two words, in that second language, you never want to hear with a 100lb. Akita. Edit- And, I would highly recommend anyone to never harm a child in front of them…Ballistic, Fast, Agile, Hard Headed, Determined…Edit - And, Very Intelligent. 🤣🔥🏴☠️, Ed
Met one once. Seemed like a very nice puppy.
Good observations but needs to be tempered with measures of financial stress, Real Personal Income(RPI) and employment trends. Global trade has shifted towards on-shoring to protect supply chains. With China no longer a trusted partner much is repositioning which adds to local employment and personal income with the same true for the US. US employment continues to trend higher as does inflation adjusted personal income i.e., Real Personal Income. The mortgage, commercial debt and credit card delinquency rates remain historically well below threat levels. All is good for a couple of years yet despite the many forecasts by experts.
We need to see RPI decline, retail sales to decline, employment growth to turn flat and delinquency rates to rise to levels reminiscent of the inception of prior recessions before the next downturn.
So much forecast in the media and so little on point. Investors must always to do their own work but the indicators mentioned are very fundamental and reliable. This data and much more is freely available at https://fred.stlouisfed.org/
Great advice and sensible solutions...that no one ever follows.
There is great consolidation in the stock market with fewer and fewer corporations contributing to the upside! When the money men feel it has peaked and they pull the plug, it will be a rapid down hill event! Amazon, Apple and Microsoft will be the last ones standing!