Category: Economics & Investing

There is new data showing that the new typical home buyer in America is much older. When in 2005 the typical buyer was between 35 and 40, the typical buyer today is now closer to 40 or 45 (and older in some regions of the country). What this signifies is the pent up demand of young buyers never materialized because of high student debt and stagnant incomes: The typical home buyer is now a lot older than just a decade ago: Recent buyer and seller data shows an older population purchasing real estate across the country. We also see this …

I just noticed that the spot price of platinum has dipped to just $940 per ounce. Meanwhile, spot gold close at $1,089.40. Whenever you can buy platinum for less than gold, then it is a good time to hedge into some physical platinum! For the sake of recognizability in barter, my favorite platinum coins to buy are the 1/2-ounce and 1/4-ounce U.S. Liberty coins, from the U.S. Mint. It is best to buy them in PCGS or NGC slabs. – JWR o o o Obamacare – The Gift That Keeps On Taking Sent in by J.Q. o o o Items …

I think am going to be sick. For God’s Sake Bill STOP! Sent in by JFJ. o o o Shippers warn of overcapacity, cancel scheduled voyages The Juggernaut is slowing down. I’ve been following Mish’s blog for a couple of years now. He’s generally been accurate with his observations and predictions, and I think he is correct about a big slowdown (and recession?) coming soon. – P.S. o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: Is the American Market Rigged? (Christian Science Monitor) An Unpleasant Surprise on Health Insurance Rates Courtesy of Obamacare… (NY Times) Commentary: …although not unexpected! How Beijing …

SurvivalBlog reader D.S. sent in this link about crossing the borders with precious metals. It’s not just cash anymore that arouses suspicion. Crossing Borders with Gold and Silver Coins – a Glimpse of Things to Come o o o The disinformation campaign in full swing about the U.S. economy. The economy is on an unsustainable debt path. The Most Devious Liars In The Room. Sent in by J.Q. o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: National Security Lines Blurred via Business Relationships Between China and U.S. Tech Giants: IBM, Cisco Systems and Microsoft (New York Times) Glencore Watch: The Search …

SurvivalBlog reader P.S. sent in this screen shot from the latest November 2 US Treasury daily statement. Congress and Obama also agreed to suspend the debt limit until March, 2017. That’s right, there are no limits on the Feds checking account for almost a year and a half. Whee… fools. o o o In Sweden Cash Is Becoming Radioactive Sent in by G.G. o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: 600 Ways to Cut Government Spending and Save $640B (The Fiscal Times) $70M for Michelle Obama’s Program to Empower Girls in Pakistan (Judicial Watch) Master Your Budget: 8 Steps and …

Most retailers finally make it into the black during this season, but according to this link sent in by RBS, that may not be happening: Morgan Stanley predicts a bleak holiday season for most retailers o o o In a surprise finding, it turns out that the US has overtaken the Caymans and Singapore as a haven for the assets of the super-rich. Sent in by GJM o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: National Debt Likely Doubles During Obama Presidency – While this is awful, we must not forget that Obama is not alone in this; nearly all his …

American Tax Refugees. Why so many Yanks are renouncing their U.S. citizenship. Sent in by G.G. o o o The Chinese Juggernaut is stumbling lately as seen by this article sent in by G.P. o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: Regulators to Shutter Health Republic Insurance of New York (Wall Street Journal) Social Security Strategy Loopholes used to Maximize Benefits Closed in Budget Deal (Market Watch) New No Money Down Mortgages: Wealth Building Home Loans (Financial Advisor Magazine) Risk to Loss of Banking Revenue Rises with Digital Transactions (Gallup) FBI Alerts: Common Fraud Schemes (FBI) Number of Dollar Stores …

Just in case you’re curious about what a Republic that hasn’t been bought by Central Bankers looks and smells like…Iceland! Iceland! Iceland! Sent in by GJM o o o Sent in by SurvivalBlog reader RBS: “Tax Expenditures” Are Not “Free Stuff” o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: Citizens Against Government Waste Goes Trick-or-Treating: Reveals a Fiscal House of Horrors (CAGW) Economists Sounding the Alarm about the Risk of a New U.S. Recession (Washington Post) Today’s War Against Deflation to Make Us Poorer (Mises Institute) Rand Paul’s Vow: He’ll Do Everything Within My Power to Stop the Disasterous Budget Deal …

SurvivalBlog reader H.L. sent in this link showing issues with Deutsche Bank: Deutsche Bank Reports Massive Loss, Will Cut 35,000 Jobs, Exit 10 Countries In Sweeping Overhaul o o o Gold Analogue: Then and Now o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: The US Spends $35 Billion In Global Economic Aid (But Where Does All This Money Really Go?) Fed’s Lacker: Here’s Why I Dissented at Last FOMC Vote – So what we really need is to eliminate central planning including the price of money (interest rates); it is laughable that Lacker believes that the U.S. economy is a bed …

Wow! What the Rite Aid deal means for Walgreens and the future of retail healthcare Walgreens acquiring Rite-Aid means that they will now control 41% of the pharmacy market. CVS already controls 58% of the market. How is that good for health care? Sent in by RBS o o o Items from The Economics Team: Our Debt Continues to Increase: The Boehner-Obama Deal (CNS News) Time to Use Threats of Default and Shut-Down to Reduce Spending (My Way) Weak U.S. Business Spending Plans Signal Slower Economic Times Coming (Reuters) The Bull Run in Stocks is Perilous (Market Watch) Orders for …

Big Business Has No Community Or Country Loyalty – So Buy Local – RBS o o o The Worse Things Get For You, The Better They Get For Wall Street, Sent in by J.Q. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Empty Malls in China? A Lesson in Excess Capacity (Zero Hedge) House Conservative Leaders Say It’s Too Late to Prevent a Debt Ceiling Hike (Reuters) Economic Outlook Strongest Predictor of Immigration Views (Gallup) Record Number of Americans Sell Blood Plasma to Make Ends Meet (Zero Hedge) Debt in China: Deleveraging Delayed (The Economist)

SurvivalBlog reader G.P. sent in this link to Town Hall explaining why central banks are accepting the risks of super-low rates. o o o Items from the Economics Team: 5 Minimalist Secrets to Saving Money (Simplicity Relished) China’s Fix for Falling Profits is Only Making Things Worse (Business Insider) The Data Isn’t Good: U.S. Companies Warn Recession is Coming (Zero Hedge) The Fed Can’t Raise Rates…But Must Pretend It Will (Mises Institute) 3M Plans to Cut 1,500 Jobs (Bloomberg Business) Weatherford International Plans 3,000 More Job Cuts by End of 2015 (Fuel Fix) o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: …

SurvivalBlog reader P.S. sent in a link to the US 2014 wage statistics. Basically: If you’re making $30K, you are in the 51st percentile. In other words, 51% of the U.S. population is making the same or less than you. If you’re making $60K, you are in the 81st percentile. If you’re making $90K, you are in the 90th percentile. If you’re making $125K, you are in the 95th percentile. A 1 percenter would be making $250K or more, putting them in the 99th percentile. There are approximately 1.1M people who made between $250K and $500K in 2014. A 0.1 …

Here is a sobering fact about Millennials, the largest cohort behind baby boomers: half of Millennials are living at home with their parents. Another 28 million Millennials are not in school and are working in jobs that pay $10,000 a year or less: Half of Millennials live at home with parents: The economy still feels like it is in a deep recession for millions of Millennials. And this group is supposedly the group that is going to relaunch the American economy. o o o Items from the Economics Team: Rick Rule, Doug Casey: “Severe But Survivable” Reckoning Ahead For The …

SurvivalBlog reader CPL sent in the link showing IRS inflation adjustments for 2016 taxes. o o o Items from the Economics Team: China Cuts Rates for 6th Time Since November (Fox Business) Reflections on Venezuela’s Economic Miracle (Mises Institute) Hint: Don’t expect a follow up from Salon Wall Street Investment Banks may be about to Lose one of their Best Customers (Business Insider) Hint: Banks have been cashing in on the price of your prescriptions in a big way for a long time! Why China’s Rate Cut Won’t Slow Its Economic Decline (Zero Hedge) Hint: The cake has already been …