Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today’s focus is on filling in your gun collection gaps. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)
Precious Metals:
Gold, Silver Investors: Strap In; It’s Going To Be A Bumpy Ride – LBMA 2019 Price Forecast
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From chartist Hub Moolman: A Major Silver Breakout Ahead?
Economy & Finance:
UK consumers shun credit cards as Brexit looms. Here is a quote:
“The boom in consumer borrowing across Britain has cooled to the slowest annual growth rate in four years, according to official figures, as households rein in their spending. The Bank of England said annual consumer credit growth slowed to 6.6% in December, continuing a trend for weaker levels of household borrowing on credit cards, personal loans and car finance deals.
In a reflection of the slowdown in consumer spending over the key festive shopping period, the amount borrowed last month dipped to £700m, below the average £1bn per month for the previous six months. The Bank said credit card borrowing was particularly weak, with only £100m put on plastic last month compared with an average of about £300m per month since July…”
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At Sovereign Man: Mexico is Starting to Look Like Venezuela. (Thanks to reader A.A. for the link.)
National Debt and Defecit:
H.L. spotted this: Treasury Set to Borrow $1 Trillion for a Second Year to Finance the Deficit
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Doug Eberhardt, at Seeking Alpha: The National Debt Math Doesn’t Add Up
Commodities:
Reuters: London copper rises after miner forecasts lower output
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New Exploration Tech Finds 1.5 Billion Barrels Of Oil In Alaska
Forex & Cryptos:
Aussie Headline CPI Beats Forecast, but Core Inflation Misses Targets
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What Made Ripple’s XRP Gain 9% Against the US Dollar in Just 3 Hours?
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Bitcoin – Finally some Green on the Board. But Can It Hold?
Tangibles Investing (Gun Collection Gaps):
With Federal “gun control” (civilian disarmament) legislation in the works, it is high time to inventory your family gun, magazine, and ammunition battery. Fill in the gun collection gaps! Do you have a semi-auto rifle or pistol with just a few magazines? Then bring it up to at least 10 per gun! Have a gun that s chambered in an oddball caliber? Then either trade it fro something more practical, or at least buy some more boxes of ammunition for it. Do you have at least five bricks (2,500 rounds) of ammo for each of your rimfire rifles? Do you have an AR lower tucked away, but without an upper to mate to it? (Or vice versa?) You get my drift. Buy now, while prices are low, and supplies are plentiful. Because closer to the end of Trump’s term in office the market will be radically different. So, consider: Do you have gun collection gaps?
The clock is ticking. My advice: Take the time to watch your local newspaper classified ads and private party listings in your own state at GunBroker.com, at GunsAmerica.com, and at GunAuction.com. Also, plan to attend as many in-state guns shows as you can that are within reasonable driving distance that are scheduled in the next three months. See the gun show calendar web sites.) Bring plenty of cash and perhaps a couple of your more impractical guns to trade. Oh, and also print out a hard copy of my Pre-1899 Cartridge Guns FAQ to bring with you, for reference. You may luck into finding a good shootable Federally-exempt antique rifle or revolver.
It is time to fill your gun collection gaps and stack both your gun vault and your hidden storage closet deep.
Provisos:
SurvivalBlog and its Editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for our detailed disclaimers.
News Tips:
Please send your economics and investing news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant, because they come from folks who particularly watch individual markets. And due to their diligence and focus, we benefit from fresh “on target” investing news. We often get the scoop on economic and investing news that is probably ignored (or reported late) by mainstream American news outlets. Thanks!
When I can only own a antique fire arm in this country, I will be using my most modern firearms to their fullest qualities. Enough said.
“consumer spending over the key festive shopping period”
This is what post Christian come Sharia language looks like. England is through.
Good catch. Yep
Absolutely agree regarding the potential change in 2A climate within the next year as the 2020 election cycle revs up. For those who say “this or that will never happen because (fill in your favorite excuse)”…well, remember that within the short span of only two years, we went from a long span of conservative Republican leadership (1980 – 1992) to Democrats and a Federal Ban that put us into a corner for the next ten years (1994 – 2004). This swing happened suddenly!
JWR is correct. Just like anything else, the best time to buy in any particular market is when the masses aren’t focused on it and prices are low. Here in CA, legislation was passed in 2016 under AB63 (remember the infamous “Gunmageddon”?) mandating ammo background checks and registration, and now the effective date is finally coming on Jul 1. And yet when I made another purchase over the weekend, the shelves are still full and nobody I’ve spoken with has expressed any urgency. In fact, the guy in front of me bought only a single 50-rd box to plink at the range! I’ve been buying and stocking since Obummer’s re-election back in 2012 and am only NOW reaching a point where I feel reasonably stocked. When the masses here finally wake up and make the mad dash to the stores, all the ammo will disappear overnight. Imagine this same scenario nationwide for ARs, standard capacity mags, etc.
Don’t wait.
Prices are already rising in some areas. Palmetto State Armory had a great “Post SHOT Show” sale on kits that just required the lower. Rimfire ammo had just started to recover from the last big buy up. I would get it now if you didn’t already have it. Don’t forget parts and pieces. Do you have spare parts kits? Spare springs for magazines? Spare set of sights? Do you have repair manuals?
If you thought the last democrat circus was bad, just wait until this one gets going.
Avoid crowds, have a plan and slow down. Build your skills. Can you sew? Can you make a simple hinge? Can your repair a roof? Can you milk a cow or a goat? Make butter? Can you raise a garden when it counts? I thought it would be my grandkids that would see collapse. I am beginning to realize it could very well happen in my lifetime.
Just a heads up. There are a lot of rebates out there on ammo.
Too many to list but an example is $1.00 off each 50 box of 9mm.
https://promotions.vistaoutdoor.com
Stock up