Category: Economics & Investing

Reader Andre D. sent: Feeding the Bubble: Is the Next Crash Brewing? Charles Hugh-Smith: A Quick Guide to What’s Fake: Everything That’s Officially Sanctioned. [JWR’s Comment: While I disagree with his viewpoint on government intervention in the marketplace and on taxation (I’m a laissez faire minimalist-government libertarian), I almost always enjoy reading Charles Hugh-Smith’s piercing observations.] Over at The Daily Bell: Forced Savings Bait and Switch Items from The Economatrix: U.S. October Business Inventories Up 0.7% Why The Budget Deal Is Bad News For Gold: Pro Is Your Job About To Be Outsourced By A Computer (The Probability Is 47%) …

Readers Mark A. and John in Colorado both mentioned: Taper or no taper, the Fed will never end QE: Marc Faber Camden, New Jersey: One Of Hundreds Of U.S. Cities That Are Turning Into Rotting, Decaying Hellholes Record U.S. Gold Bullion Exports Head to Hong Kong & Switzerland Items from The Economatrix: Retail Sales Rise, Signaling Stronger Economy Jobless Claims Highest In Two Months Why I Won’t Be Surprised if the Global Economy Caves

K.A.F. sent a link to some fascinating maps: America’s Wealth Is Staggeringly Concentrated in the Northeast Corridor. (But take a look at the Bakken region of eastern North Dakota.) Reader Tim R. suggested this article: Gun Stocks Soar, Gun Control ‘Dead as an Issue’ Pierre M. sent: North America to Drown in Oil as Mexico Ends Monopoly Items from The Economatrix: Proposal On Capitol Hill Would Nearly Double Federal Gas Tax The Economy: What’s Ahead In 2014 Improving Economy: Is It For Real?

Andre D. forwarded this Reuters article link: Insight: Europe faces moment of truth on banks, with flawed defenses Mike Rowe on the Hidden Cost of Compliance (A hat tip to H.L. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: IT’S A SCANDAL: New Budget Agreement Doesn’t Contain Extended Benefits For The Unemployed New Wave Of US Mortgage Troubles Threaten Europe Repeating Japan’s Errors As Deflation Draws Closer

Reader Tom H. sent: Price of silver could double because of Apple Washington & Wall-Street: The Death of Money. (Thanks to both Gregg P. and to Jeff in Texas for the link.) C.D.V. sent this: Yet Another Massive Nail In The Dollar’s Coffin Items from The Economatrix: Richard Russell – US May Destroy The World Monetary System The One Topic No One Is Discussing Congressional Odd Couple Finally Strikes a Budget Deal 

This year saw a battle for the direction of precious metals waged between speculators and short-term “paper gold” traders in the West, against record-breaking physical demand in the East. That physical demand from Asia reached new highs in 2013, underpinning a market that saw the outflows from precious metals ETFs eagerly snapped up by the Chinese and Indians. Gold and silver ended the year about where they ended 2010, while platinum was down only slightly from 2012. Palladium was the big performer, doing even better in 2013 than last year, but not as well as the all-time high reached in …

Reader H.L. sent: While the White House and Senate Democrats hammered guns and gun rights during 2013, investors put their money into gun company stocks and garnered “incredible returns.” Items from The Economatrix: Must-Know: Minimum Wage of $7.25 Isn’t As Low As People May Think US Wholesale Stockpiles Grow 1.4 Pct. In October Why Natural Gas Prices Jumped On The Latest Inventory Report

Reader H.J. sent this news of a trial balloon: Obama Admin Plans To ‘Force’ Americans To Move Into Cities – “Redistributing” the Wealth H.L. sent: Market Analyst Is Looking at Something He Says Should Be Causing ‘Panic Aplenty’ Rob McEwen: “Our [Currency] Is Being Debased, And One Needs To Protect Their Capital” Items from The Economatrix: 37 Reasons Why “The Economic Recovery Of 2013? is a Giant Lie US Job Openings Reach 5-Year High, A Hopeful Sign The Minimum Wage Ain’t What It Used To Be

Five Bullish Indicators That Will Drive Silver Prices Higher Andre recommended this photo collection: Modern Ruins of Abandoned Detroit. (Quite sobering, and hopefully not a preview of the demise of America’s other large cities.) Items from The Economatrix: Another Government Shutdown In Sight? Five Trends Beneath The Surface In Nov. Jobs Report Depreciating Cars And Expensive Diplomas Fueled By Easy Debt: 95 Percent Of Consumer Debt Growth In Past 12 Months From Cars And Student Loans

James W. recommended this market analysis: Five Charts: The Real Story Behind Silver If you’ve ever wondered which charities are top-heavy, R.B.S. recommended this site: Charity Navigator. BTW, I was pleased to see that Compassion International (one of my favorite charities) was so highly rated. Items from The Economatrix: Billionaire Eric Sprott – The End Game Is Absolutely Horrifying Chart Of The Day: US Labor Force Declines By 25,000 In Past Year Despite 2.4 Million Rise In Employable Americans Washington Is Standing In The Way Of US Recovery

North Dakota might have the strongest labor market in the world, with a jobless rate in the Bakken of less than 0.50%. (Adjoining eastern Montana has also greatly benefited from the Bakken Boom.) Life in the Obama era: Private sector shrank in 41 states Dr. Marc Faber: “World Central Banks Are Going To Bankrupt The World!” Items from The Economatrix: More Americans Are Working, But Pay Is Low Prof:  America In Worse Fiscal Shape Than Detroit Low Wages Are Stalling America’s Economy

Sherry K. suggested: Farmland holding value in tanked market Frequent content contributor H.L. sent this: Gold Smuggling Increases 7x In India And Surpasses Illegal Drug Trade J. McC. mentioned another peril of using social media: Two million Facebook, Gmail and Twitter passwords stolen in massive hack. [JWR’s Comment: In today’s world, your digital persona can be submitted as evidence in both civil and criminal trials. All that it would take is a malicious hacker gaining control of a moribund Facebook or Twitter account to commit wholesale character assassination that might not be detected for months or even years. You could …

Signs of the times: Kentucky town to pay police chief in Bitcoin. (A hat tip to Lynn G. for the link.) Marc Faber: World Bankers Are Going To Bankrupt The World G.G. flagged this: 41% of Net New Jobs in November Were in Government Items from The Economatrix: US Retailer Hell In One Chart Wages Relative To Profits Drop To All Time Low Big Banks Are Being Hit With Cyberattacks “Every Minute Of Every Day”