Category: Economics & Investing

Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers. Today, a map showing the world’s trillion dollar  economies. The thumbnail below is click-expandable. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) Economics & Investing News and Links of Interest Spot silver jumped almost 7.09% on Monday (May 11, 2026) to an after-hours high of $86.88 USD per Troy ounce. By Wednesday, it was up to $88.27. Profit-taking took silver down to around $84.27 on Thursday afternoon. But, obviously, this bull is not finished with his quest to trample the residents …


Gold, Debt And The Inevitable Global Housing Market Crash, by Brandon Smith

Editor’s Introductory Note: This article was written by Brandon Smith and originally published at Birch Gold Group and is re-posted with permission. Maybe the most prominent economic discussion circulating today is the fear that the vast majority of people have been priced out of housing markets for the rest of their lives, regardless of the country they live. Gen Z and even Gen Alpha teens are already planning for a future in which buying a home is impossible. Those that are buying are aiming for cost efficiency and they are buying alone (prioritizing savings and home ownership over marriage). This …


Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers. Today’s map illustrates the economic importance of our nation’s seaports and maritime waterways. It is noteworthy that Lewiston, Idaho is classified as a port city. (It handles a large volume of grain, log, and wood chip barge traffic.) The thumbnail below is click-expandable.       (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) Economics & Investing Links of Interest Storied toolmaker closes its last hometown plant—and blames its tape measures. Texas emerges as the top destination for companies leaving blue …


Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers. Economics & Investing Links of Interest Price hikes, outlook cuts – What airlines are doing as fuel costs surge. Wall Street Journal: U.S. Debt Tops 100% of GDP. Oil briefly touches $126, its highest price in four years. In 8 weeks, the Iran war has dented the U.S. economy. The damage could linger, economists say. $65B lithium mother lode hidden beneath Appalachian Mountains could supply US with power for centuries. Economics & Investing Media Tips: Please send …


Silver Prices Will Still Go Much Higher, by Hubert Moolman

Silver is trying to get back into this important channel previously pointed out:       (Click to expand.) This puts the current bull market in a similar position to 2004 in the previous bull market. In other words, it is still very early in this bull market. If you consider the current bull market structure in this context, then it should be apparent that silver prices are currently not as overextended as many may think. It would be like saying silver at $5.60 in 2004 was overpriced. Silver is currently only about 58% higher than its 1980 peak (the …


Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers. The public domain photo above of drought-cracked clay soil was taken by Bert Kaufman. Economics & Investing Links of Interest UBS Warns Drought Shock Unfolding Across Breadbasket Of America World Silver Survey, 2026 Aluminum Market Descends Into Supply ‘Black Hole’ Are Credit Card Numbers Going Away? War turns sulphur market toxic in acid supply shock. Uranium Supply Crunch Worsens Amid Kazakhstan’s Plan For Strategic Reserve. Andurand’s “Hedge” Fund Lost 52% In First Two Weeks Of April On …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic: Normalized product of inverse of Cost of Living and Human Development Index (HDI) based on 2026 Cost of Living data. JWR’s Comments:  Note that the Human Development Index has been criticized for a Scandi-centric view of health, wealth, and happiness. The HDI’s 0-to-1 ratings essentially assume that present-day Scandinavia is the penultimate in civilizational aspirations. I, for one, can imagine something a lot better than multi-generational welfare dependence. Also note that the current prosperity of Norway, the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany has partly been artificially propelled by the cash generated by drilling North Sea oil. The …


Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers. Today, a map showing Federal Spending Versus Federal Tax Revenues. Note that the maps shows far more than just impoverished regions. Spending levels are skewed in states with tribal lands. There is also lesser skewing in states with large National Forests and low population densities versus their miles of Federally-funded highways and freeways. The thumbnail below is click-expandable. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) Economics & Investing Links of Interest At Wolf Street: Car & Truck Inflation in America: …


Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers. The thumbnail below is click-expandable.       Economics & Investing Links of Interest France just pulled all its remaining gold out of the New York Federal Reserve. Forbes: Gold And Silver Hit 3-Week Highs After U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Agreement. US government is spending $88 billion a month in interest on national debt—equal to spending on defense and education combined. US employers added a surprisingly strong 178,000 jobs last month, rebounding from a weak February. Economics & Investing …


Stocking Items for Barter, by Big John

Along with all of the other items that a seasoned Prepper has, barter items are critical. You undoubtedly will need items that you forgot to stockpile during the good times. This area of prepping needs to be approached with the same meticulous logical order as all of your other prepping gear. Your trading partner, the one with those critical items that you need to survive must be satisfied. You’ve gotta have stuff that he really needs, not just stuff that fit into the category of general prepping items. He may have no need for ammo but desperately needs antibiotics. So …


Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers.  Today, a map showing where ancient Roman coins have been found. JWR’s Comments: I must mention that the price of most ancient Greek and Roman coins collapsed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as large hoards were dug up in Eastern Europe and in the former Soviet Union. The demise of the Soviet Bloc opened up western markets. This was coupled with faltering economies that were transitioning to free market capitalism. The result was that a …


Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers. Economics & Investing Links of Interest Several readers sent this: The Treasury just declared the U.S. insolvent. The media missed it. Newly released IRS data shows Red States GAINED $39 BILLION in net income in 2023 compared to Blue States LOSING $43 BILLION. The Private Credit Collapse Accelerates. Germany’s Economy At The Point Of No Return. Economics & Investing Media Tips: Please send your economics and investing links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact …


Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers.  Today, a map of global oil chokepoints. The thumbnail below is click-expandable.         (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) Economics & Investing Links of Interest How (And When) Gold Could Reach $10,000. Financial Tsunami Coming Because of Programmable Money – Catherine Austin Fitts Video: Billionaires Want Us Homeless. I received an e-mail on Wednesday from a reader who was befuddled by the bifurcation of precious metals and oil prices.  He asked why silver and gold dropped …


Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers.  This week: A map showing the hours of minimum wage work needed for rent, as of 2025. The thumbnail below is click-expandable.       (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) Economics & Investing Links of Interest Reported on March 6th: Oil surges 35% this week for biggest gain in futures trading history dating back to 1983. Oil soars then retreats, gold drops as Iran war jolts global commodity markets. Venezuela Inflation Hit 475% In 2025, The World’s Highest …


Economics & Investing Media of the Week

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers.  This week, a map of solar farms, wind farms, and battery farms in the United States. The thumbnail below is click-expandable.       (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) Economics & Investing Links of Interest The slam-down of precious metals prices on Day 3 & 4 of the Iran War defied logic.  Spot silver was down 7.92% by Tuesday afternoon. This was just after the Strait of Hormuz was closed. Logically, at such a time, most would expect …