Category: Economics & Investing

R.C. sent this: Ready or Not, Stagflation Is Here Reader Sue C. suggested this: Insight: In Greece, a Painful Return to Country Roots Peter S. spotted this piece by Mish Shedlock: Monopoly Money vs. Bernanke Money, is There a Difference? Argentina loses a third of its dollar deposits. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.) G.G. flagged this: CBO: Federal debt to double in 15 years–Fiscal challenges worst since WWII Also from G.G.: Regulators close four banks in four states; makes 28 US bank failures so far this year Items from The Economatrix: US Factory Orders Post Surprise Fall in …

Reader Lee M. mentioned this by Bill Fleckenstein: The stimulus ship sets sail: The pressure is building on central banks worldwide to do the one thing they think works: print money. Expect to see QE3 bond-buying from the Fed, and similar moves in Europe, very soon. C.D.V. sent this one: CBO paints grim long-term debt picture Bruce Krasting of Zero Hedge discusses currency controls, in reverse: $7 Million a Minute. It is strange, indeed to see a country putting up walls to stop currency from coming in. Items from The Economatrix: Paul Craig Roberts: Collapse At Hand Greece Warns Of …

John R. sent this: 647,762,000,000,000 Reasons to Worry: The Derivatives Time Bomb. Food is the New Oil, Land is the New Gold. (Thanks to Bob G. for the link.) Reader J.B.G. sent this: Pharmacy queues show price Greeks are paying for credit breakdown L.M.W. suggested some more great commentary from Karl Denninger: On “Austerity” and False Gods Items from The Economatrix: AIG Chief Sees New Retirement Age as High as 80 After Crisis. Shenandoah:  A Fascinating Editorial From A Chinese Economist On The US Dollar The Dark Financial Clouds Engulfing Europe

Nearly everyone who has bought residential real estate in the U.S. as “an investment” since 2005 can now call themselves contrapreneurs. The seasonally-adjusted Case-Schiller data for Q1 of 2012 shows that new lows have been reached in many markets. FWIW, I’ve been reading “The bottom is near”-themed articles since 2008, but I’m not holding my breath. In some markets, the majority of sales are either short sales or “bank owned” (foreclosed) properties. It may be another decade until the real bottom is reached. Regular content contributor Pierre M. sent this: BIS warns global lending contracting at fastest pace since 2008 …

Jim Rogers’ Most Dire Warning, “Please Get Worried”. (Thanks to David B. for the link.) C.D.V. sent this: Don Coxe – Emergency Fed Meeting & Gold Backed Bonds Also from C.D.V. : Germany Resists Proposals to Aid Spain’s Banks The Banker’s New Greek Strategy: Starve them into Compliance. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Shenandoah:  The Banker’s New Greek Strategy:  Starve Them Into Compliance Oil Price Little Changed As Investors Track Europe Gold Eases, Focus Shifting To Key Economic Events

Dimitri Orlov: Prepare Yourself – America will collapse Reader C.D.V. sent this: More and More Chances of Quantitative Easing, QE3 Dreams Live On Reader L.M.W. suggested this sobering essay by Karl Denninger: Time is Running Out Market rumor: Pimco and JP Morgan halt vacations to prepare for economic crash Debate: JPMorgan prop trading or hedging? Items from The Economatrix: Schiff:  America Is Already Bankrupt Obama Stimulus May Have Cost $4.1 Million Per Job

Mr. Rawles, In response to the article entitled A Home Purchasing Guide For Rookies, I feel compelled to set the record straight.  Before doing so, I want to thank you for your factual comments at the end of his letter. The purpose of my response is to ensure that Survival Blog readers get factual information that they can use in their decision making process.  The author of the article made some unfair and sweeping generalizations about Real Estate professionals in general.  Hopefully he will read and learn from the recent posts about logic and decision making.  Here is an outline …

Former Hedge Fund Manager Warns Of ‘THE END GAME’ In Terrifying Presentation. (Thanks to Todd M. for the link.) Also from Todd: What if US gets downgraded again? B.B. sent this: Debt crisis: a $46 trillion problem comes sweeping in June 5, 1933: FDR takes United States off gold standard Items from The Economatrix: Many Unemployed Facing Early End to Benefits The Truth About Europe:  There is No Solution The Global Economy is Sitting on a Volcano.  What Happens Next? Steve Quayle Alert:  Acceleration of Financial Meltdown Can’t Be Stopped Zero Hedge: The Real Banking Crisis, Part II John Galta:  …

Monty Pelerin: Europe Will Trigger U.S. Frantically spending and monetizing, to delay the collapse: Debt Up $1.59 Trillion Under GOP House—More in 15 Months than First 97 Congresses Combined Greek Exit From Euro Seen Exposing Deposit-Guaranty Flaws The end game of global leveraged debt – double-digit percentage point market declines in Europe and Japan and the danger of refinancing debt with longer term debt. Over at TF Metals Report: Getting Real, Real Fast ‘Beware a rerun of the Great Panic of 2008’: Head of World Bank warns Europe is heading for ‘danger zone’ Items from The Economatrix: Oil Set For …

Jim W. suggested this chilling piece abut the next wave of house price declines: Keith Jurow: Prepare For The Coming Housing Collapse Greek energy crisis could cause national power blackout in June. (Thanks to Ian R. for the link.) PIMCO’s Gross warns of economic “breaking point” Nobel Laureate Says Globe Headed For Financial “Breakdown” and “Radicalism” Chris G. flagged this bad news: Time Bomb? Banks Pressured to Buy Government Debt Items from The Economatrix: Some derivatives news: The Second Act of the JPM CIO Fiasco Has Arrived — Mismarking Hundreds of Billions in Credit Default Swaps Another Housing Collapse Is …

Taxes One of the questions I was asked that prompted creating this document, was that of a comparison of tax basis for home purchase decisions. Its very hard for me to appropriately answer, as the question of comparison is largely based on the entities in the county in question. I can tell you that differences in South Western and Central Wisconsin counties are negligible (although they can vary higher in larger municipalities and vacation destinations such as Madison and Lake Geneva.) For most rural properties, its quite comparable based on zoning and use. The question I believe was prompted in …

Friday (June 1st, 2012) was a banner day. Stocks plunged, but gold and silver rallied, hopefully signaling a change from May’s declines. With the credit market in turmoil, everyone is frantic for cash–among other things to meet CDS derivative margin calls. (I’ve been warning you about derivatives since 2006.) Hence the fire sale in stocks, metals, and even crude oil–both futures and spot markets. But the long term prospects for silver and gold look bullish. In the current era of “quantitative easing” monetization, the paper currencies are doomed to go down, and metals are the safe haven hedge. My favorite …