Category: Economics & Investing

G.G. flagged this: Is the dollar as good as gold? Life After QE: The Fed Is Starting To Prepare For A Future PR Nightmare The Daily Bell reports: The New Era in Gold Repatriation Will Affect Everything Items from The Economatrix: Dow Surges To New Closing High On Economy, Fed’s Help Dow Breaks Record, But Party Unlikely To Last [JWR’s Comment: The Fed’s addiction to Quantitative Easing has created this bubble. As with other severe addictions, this won’t end well.] Jobless Claims Fall Sharply

Notice the lack of large bumps in the American Redoubt on this zoomable population density map? (Thanks to Craig S. for the link.)    o o o Wyoming legislators lay down welcoming mat for Colorado gun-accessory maker.    o o o In his characteristic writing style, Montana veterinarian and state legislator Krayton Kerns bemoans the nationwide .22 LR ammo drought: Without a Shot    o o o Some Idaho legislative news, courtesy of reader RBS: Idaho Lawmakers Want More Information Before Exempting Pocket Knives as Concealed Weapons. And: Ada County Sheriff Raney’s Idaho gun legislation forum. Also in Idaho: Lawmaker: …

Mayor Bloomberg: Don’t Panic About the Sequester. “Mr. Bloomberg argued the United States could owe “’an infinite amount of money’ and there is no specific amount that would cause the country to default.”Yeah, right. (I think he’s been sneaking a few 32-ounce Mega Big Gulps of Mountain Dew, in violation of his own decree.) Walter Zimmerman: Every Indicator I Follow Shows The Market Is Going To Tank, And There Will Be A New Financial Crisis In Debt We Trust America Before the Bubble Bursts. (Thanks to R.B.S. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Wal-Mart Situation “Getting Worse” New Leaks …

Some Daily Bell analysis: Italy Founders While Greece Subsides: Is Austerity Over? Not So Fast … Bitcoin deflation! It is interesting to note that One Bitcoin (“BTC”) is now worth around $34 USD. Please support the Bitcoin movement. If we can use mechanisms like Bitcoin and traditional barter instead of the banking system, then we will starve the banksters and regain some of our economic freedom and our privacy. ‘Dilbert’ Creator Alleges Vast Conspiracy — Predicts 20% Market Collapse Items from The Economatrix: Jobless Claims Rise Sound Money Campaign:  “Economists Love To Hate Gold” The Tooth Fairy:  Double-Digit Growth A …

A Recipe For Massive Hyperinflation or Bankruptcy: ProShares UltraShort 20+ Year Treasury, iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Michael Pollaro: Chairman Bernanke, Price Inflation is the Least of Your Problems Over at Lew Rockwell’s page, Peter Schiff predicts: US Debt Crisis Will Be Worse Than Europe’s Items from The Economatrix: Housing To Drive Growth (Finally!) American Consumers Upbeat In February Inflation Remained Subdued In January

Jim W. was the first of several readers to point me to this piece at Zero Hedge: Silver Demand Surges To Record For February. Jim W. correctly observed that the paper markets for precious metals are increasingly irrelevant. The true relevance in the grand scheme of things can be found in the fact that the supply of paper is limitless and he supply of silver is fixed. Don’t be frightened by short term swings in the market. Just be thankful for the dips–our opportunities to buy in in the midst of a long term bull market. Buy tangibles, not conceptuals. …

Panic in Greek pharmacies as hundreds of medicines run short H.L. sent this, also from The Guardian: We’re so well educated – but we’re useless (Also true in much of America) Aaron H. suggested: If inflation is zero, why does my paycheck feel like it’s shrinking? Items from The Economatrix: Eurozone Crisis As It Happened:  Italian Political Deadlock Sends Markets Tumbling Will Italy Be The Spark That Sets Off Financial Armageddon In Europe? I Hope You’re Ready: “The Selloff Today Is The Start, Not The End

20 States With the Most and Least Mortgage Debt (With the exception of Washington, the American Redoubt States are looking good.) Jim Rickards discusses his Currency Wars book and his expectation for endless monetization of the U.S. Dollar. Reader B.F. recommended a reputable and well-established supplier of gold and silver bullion: OnlyGold.com. Michael C. mentioned this about coupon clipping: Why Consumers May Be on a Crash Course Items from The Economatrix: If Masses Lose Confidence In The Currency… US Stocks Slide As Italy, Sequestration Hit Jobless, Cities Could Be First To Feel Budget Pain Is Rebound In Housing Creating Another …

US Dollar Collapse? Here Are 9 Ways It Could Happen Half of Detroit property owners don’t pay taxes. (Thanks to J.B.G. for the link.) Meanwhile, in Stockton, California: Some residents struggle to pay property taxes Items from The Economatrix: IMF:  World Economy Could End As We Know It … Christine Lagarde: “2013 Will Be Make Or Break” Waking Dreams End Unpleasantly US Already In Technical Default

The High Burden of State and Federal Capital Gains Taxes. (California’s new combined rate us a whopping 33%. Ouch!) Report: United States lost 11,630 farms in 2012 What European Recovery? Unemployment at record high and debt only keeps reaching more unsustainable levels. Italy’s Debt to GDP crosses 125 percent. Items from The Economatrix: The Trigger Has Been Pulled, The Crash Has Begun, How Are Things Going To Play Out Are We Headed Toward An Economic Collapse? Preparing For A Financial Armageddon Moody’s Cuts UK Credit Rating One Notch To Aa1 US Consumers Hit By Payroll Taxes, Rising Gas Prices: Up …

Mr. Rawles, Thank you for your site and all that you do.  I haven’t seen anyone mention on Survivalblog the recent price rise in Bitcoin.  It is a good time to turn any coins into tangible items.  I would like to recommend Fastcash4bitcoins.com I used the service for the first time about two weeks ago just to see if it was for real I selected the pay me with a check option and was paid out on 5 bitcoins.  I can happily say I received and cashed the check three days later.  Now that I had some more confidence in …

G.G. sent us a link to some clueless punditry from The Economist crowd: More Inflation Is the Cure for the Fed’s Impotence. The Fed is locked in to ZIRP and endless monetization (“Quantitative Easing”) because the service cost on the Treasury debt would be unsustainable if interest rates were to rise. When inflation resumes and interest rates do jump, it will be Game Over. The Dollar will crash, interest rates will run up past 15%, and the economy will stagnate. Be careful what you wish for, Mr. Avent. At this point the Fed is irretrievably stuck until Der Tag, when …

Graham Summers: The Fed is Now the Fifth Largest Country in the World B.B. recommended this at Zero Hedge: Stanley Druckenmiller: “We Have An Entitlement Problem” And One Day The Fed’s Hamster Wheel Will Stop America’s Most Miserable Cities 2013 Items from The Economatrix: Why Trouble’s Brewing For The Euro Insolvency, USA Wal-Mart’s “Atrocious” Quarter Reveals A Faltering Economic Recovery