Category: Economics & Investing

Two Letters Re: The Noose is Tightening

HJL, I can confirm Chase has changed their policies. I tried to help a friend by depositing 50 bucks cash in her account, and they said I needed to be a signer on the account. When I asked why, they said it was because of counterfeit bills being deposited into someone else’s account. I thought it was weird that a bank would be concerned with people bringing counterfeit money into a branch. I ended up having to drive the money down to my friend. As I’m writing this, I wonder can you do blind deposits via the drop box anymore? …



Three Letters Re: The Noose is Tightening

HJL, I recommend that readers strive to make deposits and withdrawals via an ATM. There is no opportunity to be interrogated by a teller. I’ve also found that a deposit of a larger value seems to clear faster (i.e. funds available in my account) if I perform the deposit via an ATM. – P.S. o o o HJL, I checked with a friend of mine that works in a small community bank in NJ. She was not aware of the most intrusive questions at all. Income and employer of both to make a deposit plus the other questions they do …


Economics and Investing:

GERMAN GOLD BUYING: A Chart You Have To See o o o Margin Debt Breaks Out: Hits New Record 50% Higher Than Last Bubble Peak o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Peter Schiff- The Fed Considers a More Seasoned Approach – While Peter and others may not view the Fed in an insidious or conspiratorial way, I consider that to be a bit wishfully naïve. As I have heard JWR say in an interview, if you look at legislation it always seems to favor the bankers. Consumer Comfort in U.S. Slumps on Views of Buying Climate Financial Insanity Grips …


Letter: The Noose is Tightening

HJL, Report from Maryland: I went to the bank today to make a deposit (two medical insurance reimbursement checks). I was informed that I had to show my drivers license or passport to make a deposit. (Up until now ID had to be provided only for withdrawals.) Then, the teller told me I needed to provide personal information: name of employer, annual salary, citizenship of another country or dual citizenship, foreign bank account holdings, and because it is a joint account, I was told to provide the same for my spouse. I’ll let you and others imagine my response. I …


Economics and Investing:

How Long Can OPEC Maintain Its Current Strategy? o o o Here’s a sad statistic from a Georgia think tank—Georgia Public Policy foundation: Cost of government: Federal regulation and intervention cost American consumers and businesses an estimated $1.88 trillion in 2014 in lost economic productivity and higher prices, according to “Ten Thousand Commandments,” by the Competitive Enterprise Institute. If U.S. federal regulation was a country, it would be the world’s 10th largest economy, ranking behind Russia and ahead of India. Given that our total national economy is somewhere in the $18 trillion range (GDP was listed as $16.7 trillion in …


May In Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran of Gainesville Coins

Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, where we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals. Each month, we cover the price action of gold and examine the “what” and “why” behind those numbers. May was a dance between gold and the greenback, as the two fell back into a negative correlation. Gold traded in a tight range between $1185 and $1195 for the first part of the month, before a weakening dollar helped both gold and silver rally to a three-month high. The dollar hit a four-month low on May 15, then rallied into …



Economics and Investing:

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Warns Greece “Is Not Investable” As Germany Denies Any Deal Progress o o o Inflation acts as a pickpocket on the wallets of working Americans: Young Americans take a big hit given the small weight given to tuition in the CPI. o o o Millennials in Texas and in California reject home ownership for vastly different reasons. – H.L. o o o Lunch With Elvis (Sarcasm and fantasy) o o o This Is What Happens When A Millennial Tries To Get A Job. – H.L.


Economics and Investing:

Two CEOs in one day…. Snapchat and Red Hat: Tech bubble will end badly o o o Why Russia Is On A Gold Buying Spree o o o IRS hacked, 100,000 taxpayers exposed o o o Meet the BLICS – New Source for Phony Dollar Support – By Jim Willie o o o Something BIG Is About To Happen To Silver o o o Greece Owes $1.2 Billion To Drugmakers As Government Can No Longer Afford Basic Medical Supplies. – H.L.


Letter: Nickels Strategy

JWR/HJL, Here’s a nickel accumulation strategy that might be useful to SB readers building their piles. Instead of asking the bank teller for loose rolls, I have switched to $100 boxes. I get no eye-rolls from the tellers; they just walk to the vault and pick up a box. Boxes are not especially durable, but a few wraps of duct or strapping tape take care of that. Our local banks may be friendlier than some, but I have never been charged a fee for loose rolls or boxes. – AAA/Another Army Aviator


Economics and Investing:

Venezuela’s Currency Collapsing as U.S. Companies Announce They Will Only Accept U.S. Dollars. – JBG o o o The Stress Index indicated a bottom in the gold and silver markets in March of 2015. – GC o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: China Blows Its Debt Bubble Bigger Yuan Now Most-Used in Asia for Payments to China, Swift Says Bloomberg, China and $64,000 Gold Greece Risk Timeline — Why July 20 Matters Most – Interesting data


Economics and Investing:

Is The 505 Trillion Dollar Interest Rate Derivatives Bubble In Imminent Jeopardy? – B.B. o o o Suicidal Credit-Based Money System o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Video: David Stockman On Fox: How Washington Is Sowing The Whirlwind Bring Your Own Bed Sheets—–Athens Has Strip-Mined Every Dime Of Cash From Greece’s Health Care System – The Greek government is delusional thinking that its socialist agenda of government run healthcare is going to function in an already bankrupt country. Greece Hasn’t Got the Money to Make June IMF Repayment – While the situation is getting dire, I still expect a …


Economics and Investing:

HSBC fears world recession with no lifeboats left. – G.G. o o o Are you looking to earn low wages? A college degree might be your ticket. College earning power dwindles over the last 15 years. o o o The world is drowning in debt, warns Goldman Sachs. G.P. o o o Having burned close to $30 trillion worldwide since 2008, banks and tax collectors are now keen to burn paper money for good.


Economics and Investing:

America’s Trailer Parks: The Residents May Be Poor But The Owners Are Getting Rich. – H.L. o o o Why Most Gold Bugs Are Dead Wrong. – JBG o o o Congress needs a pay raise! $18T in op losses, $127T in unfunded liabilities, Losing $2.4B per day o o o Fed and CPI missing housing inflation yet again: The CPI is completely missing the increase in housing prices.