Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at the unfolding commercial real estate market collapse. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)
Precious Metals:
Key segments of the silver market to see 42% growth through 2033 – Oxford Economics.
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It bears mentioning that spot and futures silver prices have recently started going through some larger price swings. Last Tuesday, spot silver jumped 3.45%. And then on Wednesday, it was up another 1.47% to $23.63 USD per Troy ounce. And then on Thursday, it was up another 1.19% to $23.98 USD per ounce. But I still consider silver a relative bargain — so stack it deep. But be sure to shop around to get the best price, since dealer premiums vary widely.
Economy & Finance:
Bank of America “Near Insolvent”? Bank Run Possible? (A hat tip to H.L. for the link.)
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Is Social Security Safe? The CPI Changes Since the ’70s Are Raising Concerns.
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Reader C.B. sent us this: New Biden ‘Joint Employer’ regulation is a boon for unions.
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New USDA poultry rule slammed as ‘Bidenomics causing record inflation’.
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‘Cashless Society’ Would Leave Millions Struggling. (A hat tip to D.S.V. for the link.)
Commodities:
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Iran’s Proposed Embargo Could Cause Chaos In Oil Markets.
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From OilPrice News: Germany To Bail Out Siemens’ Struggling Wind Turbine Division.
Inflation/Deflation Watch:
A video from Survival Lilly: [Inflation/Deflation] Situation in Europe, November 2023.
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Inflation remains top issue for voters ahead of 2024 election.
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An X-Twitter post linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: Prices across the eight major shipping routes have plunged by half this year, going from $3,000 per container to just $1,400. One analyst predicts the entire industry will lose $15 billion this year.
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Consumer sentiment falls in November, inflation expectations reach highest since 2011.
Taxes:
The IRS announced new tax brackets for 2024—here’s what you need to know.
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Harvard, US Treasury Economists Forced to Admit Trump Tax Cuts Worked as Advertised.
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Kiplinger: New State Tax Changes You Need to Know.
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California SDI Payroll Tax Cap Eliminated in 2024.
Tangibles Investing:
Liquidity gridlock worsens in US commercial real estate sector.
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The Slow-Motion Crisis in Commercial Real Estate. Here is an excerpt:
“Back when money in the bank was yielding almost nothing, commercial real estate became a haven for investors in need of reliable returns. Then central banks jacked up interest rates to tackle a bout of post-pandemic inflation and a lot of properties suddenly looked like poor investments. The troubles were compounded by the rise of home working and online shopping, which sapped demand for big, centralized workplaces and retail spaces. As prices tanked, the crisis began to affect the wider economy as banks were saddled with soured property loans, hurting their ability to lend, and cities were pockmarked with empty buildings.
The crisis has been a slow-motion slide over many months, as most properties are privately held and valuations can take years to adjust to shifts in demand. The MSCI World Real Estate Index fell by a third from the start of 2022 to October 2023, signaling where equity investors believed property values were headed. About $1.2 trillion of US commercial real estate debt was “potentially troubled” because of the slump in prices, advisory firm Newmark Group Inc. said in August.”
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Used Car Market In Turmoil As Prices Collapse And Demand Wanes.
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 or via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant because they come from folks who closely watch specific markets. If you spot any news that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers, then please send it in. News items from local news outlets that are missed by the news wire services are especially appreciated. Thanks!