Polar Vortex hits California housing market: California home sales fall over 10 percent on an annual basis. 2014 off to a drought in real estate. o o o Comparing the inflated cost of living today from 1950 to 2014:How declining purchasing power has hurt the middle class since 1950. Items from The Economatrix: Return of Goldilocks Economy Means A Weaker USD, But Beware The 3 Bears U.S. Economy Weather Impact Narrative Getting Confusing
I have subscribed to John Mauldin’s newsletter for quite some time now and while I don’t agree with everything he says, I usually enjoy his writings. I’m looking forward to his series on “income inequality”. Take a look at his latest: The Worst Ten-Letter Word. Warning: An email subscription is required to see the full article. o o o Stoic Cyprus back from the dead after banking collapse – Telegraph – JBG Items from The Economatrix: Fed Minutes Point To Continued Paring Of Stimulus U.S. Home Sales Plunged 5.1 Percent In January Is Food Inflation Coming Back? Return of Goldilocks …
This was sent in by B.B.– Myths and Lessons of the Argentine Currency It’s a very straight forward piece that helps us to understand exactly what is going on in the Argentine economy. Items from The Economatrix: Why Gold Might Drop Another 50% Jobless Claims Drop; Consumer Prices Stay Tame January Inflation Subdued Despite Biggest Jump In Electricity Prices In Four Years “Polar Vortex” Shock And Awe: The Utility Bill Arrives (And Why It Will Get Worse Before It Gets Better)
The Five Greatest Gold Robberies – D.B. Shocker: China Dumps $50 Billion in US Treasury Paper, Leaving Europe to Pick Up Slack – B.B. Items from The Economatrix: Ugly Scenario Epiphany & Forecast Formula Does The Trail Of Dead Bankers Lead Somewhere? Celente – It’s Raining Bankers To Protect The US Dominance Weak Home-Construction Data Darken Economic Outlook
D.B. sent in this article about exposing the Depression the U.S. is in, rather than “recovery”. o o o My Budget 360 has an interesting article on how the stock market is a sham for the average person. Items from The Economatrix: Economy Takes $50 Billion Winter Weather Hit Gold To Scale New Heights On Strong Technical Picture Extending Unemployment Killing Economy
We are now training our children to depend on the Government for Savings as well. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) is trying to introduce legislation that will create universal savings accounts for children and provide the first $500 for it. Items from The Economatrix: U.S. Currency Weak And About To Crash–Karen Hudes We’re Going To Be Hit With A Tsunami Of Inflation-Peter Schiff US Stock Market-To-GDP Ratio Favored By Warren Buffett Points To Imminent 50% Crash Home Builder Confidence Plunges In February
B.B. sent in this article on the Bullion Baron: Soros Reloads SPY Puts, $1.3B Bet On S&P 500 Decline o o o Bob also sent in this follow up to “Singularity” that asserts that the models are not working. In this article, Robert Samuelson – no darling of the economic right to be sure – provides an assessment of applied economic theory and finds that economists don’t really know what’s going on and can’t really predict where we are headed. This act of self analysis and honest reflection is somewhat refreshing…..even though – as in yesterday’s article/blog – there is …
Editor: I am not a tax preparer, but I have been a financial adviser for more than 30 years. I have been growing more concerned about potential government confiscation of a portion of the public’s Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA’s) and 401(k) plans (employer-sponsored retirement savings plans). The “myRA,” that Obama introduced in his State of the Union address, could be a precursor to a plan that would take part of the assets in these plans, and replace them with U.S. Treasury bonds. One alternative, of course, is to take your money out of your IRA. You’ll owe taxes, of course, …
B.C. sent in this article that seems to be a a pretty even handed view of the macroeconomic landscape. The Author uses the mathematical concept of singularity and the astrophysics concept of a black hole to provide analogies of the risks we face. He also discusses what he believes to be a “flight path” away from the black hole. – We Are Approaching The Economic Singularity o o o And D.B. sent in another article outlining the End of the Middle Class. When the New York Times is running it, it must be obvious. Items from The Economatrix: Are U.S. …
C.G. notes that QE is a mistake– A big one. J.T. sent in a news article showing the per capita spending of each state on roads. he also notes that all of the American Redoubt states are in the top 12. Items from The Economatrix: Celente – The World Is Being Run By Psychopaths & Sociopaths No Janet Yellen, The Economy Is NOT \ Europe Considers Wholesale Savings Confiscation, Enforced Redistribution 20 Signs That The Global Economic Crisis Is Starting To Catch Fire
D.B. sent in this link showing a continuation of the policy of confiscation: First Cyprus, Then Poland, Now These Savings Accounts To Get Confiscated Next o o o In a continuing trend, the U.S. Mint Nearly Sells Out Of Its Weekly Silver Eagle Allocation In Two Days. It’s important to note that the limit is based on how many silver blanks the mint has allocated. – JBG Items from The Economatrix: Top Adviser To The Chinese Government Calls For A &1dquo;Global Currency” To Replace The U.S. Dollar 22 Facts About The Coming US Demographic Shock Wave Jim Grant: “Gold Is …
C.M. sent in this video link on Prince Rupert’s Drops. It’s an amazing science phenomena that I think you will enjoy seeing. C.M., however, uses it as an object lesson on our economy. When the Federal Reserve has built enough stress into the US society (and the global economy) with market manipulation, all that will be needed to finish the job is a scratch. Items from The Economatrix: US Wholesale Stockpiles Rise 0.3 Percent December Competition For A Job Lowest Since The Financial Crisis Jim Rogers: \
Hugh, I found the article from Will to be very accurate, creative, and informative. His information was spot-on, although I would add a few comments: Disclosure: I have an employer-matching 401k plan and a Roth IRA that I rolled over from a previous job (paid the tax on the conversion). If you think the government will seize the assets, then it really does not matter what type of plan you have; they will follow the paper trail. A more realistic scenario would be a hefty tax on retirement plan, since the funds are pretax contributions (excluding Roth). The threat of …
D.B. sent in this article on the Winklevoss Bitcoin ETF. Amidst all of the bad economic news, it’s always good to hear some good news. The motley fool writes: 50 Reasons We’re Living Through the Greatest Period in World History Items from The Economatrix: Richard Russell – This Terrible Collapse Is Going To Accelerate Retail Apocalypse? Major Chains Closing Hundreds Of Stores 22 Facts About The Coming Demographic Tsunami That Could Destroy Our Economy All By Itself Lots Of Negatives Hidden In Recent Jobs Data
Introduction I know what crosses your mind when the term “prepping” is used. Obviously, as you’re reading this on a website created for the sole purpose of helping people prepare for the worst, you’re thinking of preparing for “Dooms Day”. I know what I think of when I hear, see, read, gander at, and think of the word “prepping.” Just a few short years ago, the only thing that was on my mind was the day-to-day. I was a new mom, married to an Army soldier, paying a mortgage, trying to complete my Bachelor’s degree, and working a full-time job …