Category: Economics & Investing

100 million credit card accounts are gone since 2008 – Credit card balances decline by 22 percent since their 2008 peak. R.C. sent this: Nevada man dies with $200 in bank, $7M in gold hidden inside home. I thought Nevada was the Silver State… But of course $7 million in silver would be too bulky. R.B.S. pointed me to a fairly well-balanced British documentary: The Great Euro Crash – 2012. (If you jump 25 minutes forward, you’ll see described the sneaky role that derivatives played in this debacle.) Items from The Economatrix: America Is Facing A Lost Generation:  Jim Rogers …

Does anyone really believe this Pollyanna pie-in-the-sky nonsense now coming from the mainstream media? With QE3, We All Win — Poor and Rich Alike. What balderdash! Let’s face facts, folks: The Federal Reserve has backed itself into a corner. They can’t do anything that will trigger higher interest rates. So the only arrow left in their quiver is monetization (“quantitative easing” is the gentler, sugar-coated name.) Their brilliant plan is to re-inflate the housing bubble by buying up $40 billion per month, indefinitely, in mortgage derivatives using make-believe money. This pure fiat “money” is coming from their Sunshine Pump. I …

Unlimited monetization: Get Ready For An Epic Fiat Currency Avalanche First corn and now wheat: Weather Woes Sow Worry on Wheat. Stock up your larder before prices gallop! (Thanks to U.E. for the link.) John Embry Expects a Silver Price Explosion Driven by Physical Shortage Items from The Economatrix: German Court’s Backing Bailout Fund to Test EU Resolve on Crisis Fed Seen Starting QE3 While Extending Rate Pledge to 2015 Gary North:  Gold Bugs and Anti-Gold Bugs, It’s a Fight for Civilization

The inevitable credit downgrades begin: Egan-Jones downgrades U.S. rating on QE3 move Greg C. sent: More Americans opting out of banking system Reader K.P. sent: Understand the Rules Before You Transport Precious Metals Overseas Hyperinflation Is Virtually Assured – John Williams. (Thanks to H.L. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Five Years Since The Great Financial Crisis:  “No Growth, No Deleveraging” Gerald Celente – Gold, Silver, & A Major October Surprise The Euro Crisis Is Not Over And Is About To Get Interesting

Here comes more monetization: Fed Undertakes QE3 With $40 Billion Monthly MBS Purchases. JWR’s Comment: Oh great, Mortgage Backed Securities derivatives. Your tax dollars at work, buying up dodgy debt. Reader G.A.H. was the first of several readers to mention an interesting parallel to the opening chapter of my first novel, Patriots: Germany Says ‘Great Uncertainty’ About US Debt. Here is the proverbial “life imitates art” quote: “German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble questioned on Tuesday how the United States could deal with its high levels of government debt after November’s presidential election. In private, German officials often express concern about …

Reader and loyal content contributor F.J. recommended this: When, Not If, Inflation Returns K.P. liked this article: Real Wealth, Gold, and Why Government May Want You on Food Stamps Peter Schiff: The Only Way To Fix The Economy Is To Let It Fail Items from The Economatrix: The Canadian Housing Bubble Nears Implosion Jobs Data Show US Factories Bearing Brunt of Slowdown S&P 500 Rallies to Highest Since 2008 on Stimulus Bets Miss In U.S. Payrolls Spurs Talk of New Fed Stimulus

The Secret Panic of European Banks G.G. flagged this: Government officially tops $1 trillion in deficits Reader H.L. sent: As the Euro Tumbles, Spaniards Look to Gold Pierre M. was the first of several readers to mention this: Pig farmers quit as feed prices soar Items from The Economatrix: Job Growth Cools, Posing Challenge for Obama, Fed Why a Drop in the Unemployment Rate is Tragic Homebuilders’ New Problem:  Too Few Workers

Smith & Wesson Posts Huge Earnings G.G. flagged this: To Save Money, Americans Buy Expired Food at Auctions Also from G.G.: More older workers making up labor force More monetization is in the works: Jim Rogers and Marc Faber Agree, Bombs Away Items from The Economatrix: Lackluster Economy Shows Stronger Pulse US Job Cuts Hit 20-month Low, But Layoffs Heavy Overseas Are You Better Off?  40 Statistics That Will Absolutely Shock You! 84 Statistics Showing The Collapse Of The Middle Class Is Real

Jim W. recommended this “must watch” interview that mentions the coming derivatives implosion: Greg Mannarino – People Are Going to Suffer on a Biblical Scale Marc Faber – The Most Dangerous Trend Facing The World Today. (Thanks to H.L. for the link.) G.G. flagged this: Regulators close small bank in Minnesota for total of 41 US failures so far this year Items from The Economatrix: June Food Stamp Recipients Hit All-Time High As Three Times As Many Americans Enter Poverty Than Find Jobs 8 Reasons Why No One Should Ignore The Coming Economic Collapse Unemployment Benefits Claims Fall 12,000 Inflation …

Canadian housing bubble goes into full mania mode – Canadian debt-to-personal income ratio near 145% while US at peak of the housing bubble was at 125%. When Working Until 70 Isn’t Enough Rex spotted this: Richard Russell: The World Can Fix Its Debt Problem By Raising The Value Of Gold To $10,000 The swan song of stagflation – Gas prices up over 100 percent from 2005 and incomes are stagnant. Ignoring a $16 trillion debt headline and repackaging food to hide stagnant incomes. Items from The Economatrix: Catherine Austin Fitts:  They’re Going to Depopulate or Bankrupt the Rest of Us …

G.G. sent: Why is Putin Putting Away So Much Gold? Items from The Economatrix: 18 Indications That Europe Has Become A Black Hole Which Is Going To Suck The Life Out Of The Global Economy Lost Middle-Class Jobs Being Replaced With Burger Flipping, Retail Gigs Audit of NY Fed Reveals Technocrat’s Creation And Cover-up of Global Financial Crash Gold’s Coming Rise

Some of the Really Bad Things That Could Happen if You Do Not Prepare tor the Coming Economic Collapse. (Thanks to Lee M. for the link.) Reader H.L. suggested this piece over at Zero Hedge: In Greece, It’s The Police Vs The Riot Police Mark I. sent: The 29 Ugliest Charts In The World The printing press is running hot, but where is inflation and how will it affect gold? Items from The Economatrix: Bernanke Says Fed Ready to Act But Short on Specifics “The Economy Stole My Retirement” Oil Has Peaked But No Relief at Pump Likely Soon