Inflation Watch:

B.B. sent this: Jim Rogers: Fed understates inflation B.B. sent this: China’s Gold Imports Soar Almost Fivefold on Inflation Concern TAC in Illinois mentioned: “A 50 pound bag of white rice at Sam’s Club is now up to $19.47. Up almost three dollars in the last couple of months.”




Letter Re: Evidence that Physical Silver is in Short Supply

James,   An interesting trend to make note of: Here in the Great White North, ScotiaBank (one of our Big Five banks) sells physical bullion through it’s investing arm: ScotiaMocatta.   I simply walk to the main branch in my municipality, make an order at the bullion desk, pay cash, and walk out with a number of 1 ounce silver bars (or whatever precious metal suits your tastes. I find gold too cumbersome at $1,420 per ounce to be useful for trade/barter WTSHTF…)   As of last week, the 100 ounce silver bars were no longer available either online, or …




Economics and Investing:

David C. suggested a good interview with John Williams of ShadowStats, wherein he outlines the case for hyperinflationary depression in 6-to-9 months.  Regulators close banks in Michigan, Pennsylvania. The number just goes up and up…151 banks thusfar in 2010. (Thanks to Kelly D. for the link.) Glenn Beck Warns of Food Riots, Martial Law & Gun Confiscations. (Thanks to H.W. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Gold, Silver, Copper Hit Record Highs On Weakening Dollar It’s Not IF The Euro Collapses, But WHEN Zero Permanent Jobs Were Created By The Stimulus Global Bond Route Deepens On US Fiscal Worries




Economics and Investing:

Rahn: Folding the Fed. (Thanks to John for the link.) B.B. recommend this piece: How Far Will The Gold Correction Go? C.D.V. and Roy G. both suggested a piece by Alfred W McCoy: Taking Down America (How America will collapse by 2025) Fed’s QE Ponzi Scheme begins to Backfire Items from The Economatrix: Euro Collapse “Possible” Amid Deepening Divisions Over Bail-out   Still Asleep To The New Economic Reality   UK:  Overdraft Charges Soar to 19%   Gold Likely To Hit $1,600 in 2011 – Credit Suisse  




Economics and Investing:

The Wall Street Pentagon Papers: Biggest Scam In World History Exposed – Are The Federal Reserve’s Crimes Too Big To Comprehend? (Thanks to Timothy R. for the link.) Reader L.V.Z. sent this bit of conformation for the long-standing SurvivalBlog advice to buy physical precious metals and keep them at home: Jim Rickards: At Least One Swiss Bank Has Started Refusing to Hand Over Physical Gold to Clients. From the article: “All you need is a government order and ‘gold’ becomes something that isn’t to be backed by real gold. At which point you’d be wise to have real gold in …




Letter Re: Municipalities Raising Revenue by Stepping Up Traffic Violations

Many of your readers have been sending links to articles explaining how bad the economy has been and how much worse it may get.  Some of us have little recourse but to bite the bullet and make do, do without or downsize.  Municipalities across the U.S. also face hard economic times but they have a recourse you and I do not have.  They can raise revenues by fees and fines.  Cities across the country have been increasing fines for such things as traffic violations and many have decided to enforce laws on the books to raise revenue.    In my …




Economics and Investing:

Bond Prices Plunge for Second Day on Deficit Fears. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.) Nancy B. suggested this insightful piece by Max Hastings: We’re all doomed!!! We still haven’t woken up to how much poorer the West is going to be in the future… Fleeing the U.S. Dollar: IMF sells 200 metric tons of gold worth $6.7 billion to India’s central bank Here is a piece by my mentor, Dr. Gary North: U.S. Facing Federal Debt Cataclysm, The Establishment Is in Despair Ferd flagged this: The Fed Has a $110 Billion Problem with New Benjamins The Federal Reserve covered …




Economics and Investing:

Reader G.W. wrote to mention that the Coin Debasement Modernization Act passed on November 30th. It is now waiting President BHO‘s signature. I’ve been warning folks about a likely change in the composition of the U.S. Nickel (Five Cent coin) for more than three years. This may be your last chance to get real nickels at no premium over their face value and without the effort of any sorting. (Once a coin composition change takes places, it will become labor intensive, just as it did with pennies.) Jason in Central New York sent this: Was There A Big Recession Warning …




Economics and Investing:

Surprise, surprise: Fed aid in financial crisis went beyond U.S. banks to industry, foreign firms B.B. sent this from the Des Moines Register: Why farmland is skyrocketing. (I’ve been telling folks to invest in productive farm land, for many years. I told you so!) How muni bond bust could do big damage Foreclosure mess could threaten banks, report. (A tip of the hat to Kelly D. for the link.) Elitists Leading On An Odyssey Of Economic Ruin. (An excerpt from Bob Chapman’s weekly International Forecaster) Our thanks to frequent link contributor John R. I told you so: Spot silver hit …




Economics and Investing:

America Bails Out A Thankless World  Here is an excerpt: “Turns out the Fed had over a dozen emergency programs operating beginning in 2007-08, one of them lending close to $9 trillion to Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and other troubled institutions, often at the comical interest rate of 1%.” John R. suggested this insightful piece by David at Deepcaster: Profit-Lessons from The Ongoing Europe/USA Crises Reader Davis sent flagged this: Mounting State Debts Stoke Fears of Looming Crisis Bob G. sent this item: The Patriotic and Moral Imperative for Owning Gold and Silver Items from The Economatrix: FDIC Takes Gloves …




Inflation Watch:

I got a bit of a shock when I dropped by my local coin shop, planning to buy some pre-1965 non-numismatic (“junk”) U.S. silver coins for Christmas gifts for Rawles family members. Their asking prices was 21.1 times face value! I was also surprised to see a few minty-looking 1964 proof quarters mixed in with the dealer’s tray of junk silver coins. He said that the spot price of bullion silver has galloped up so quickly that it has completely overshadowed any numismatic value for the 1964 proof Washington quarters. These are strange and exciting times for the coin bourse! …




Economics and Investing:

Sue C. sent an article that illustrates the depth of the European sovereign debt crisis: A Day of Reckoning Failed bond auctions: Germany struggles to sell five year debt; Portugal stung Also from Sue: Deficit Commission Report Fails to Advance to Congress Items from The Economatrix: Consumer Price Inflation: The Wolf at the Door   Mug’s Game (The Mogambo Guru)   Could WikiLeaks Revealing Major Bank Secrets Crash The Global Economy?   Fed Survey:  Economic Growth Picks Up In Most Of U.S.   Economy Appears Headed For Strong Finish In 2010  




Economics and Investing:

G.G. recommended: The road to a US insolvency crisis F.J. liked this piece by Simon Black: Disappearing Bank Accounts. The article begins: “If you don’t have money outside the computerized banking system, you should do so now. You just never know when the system is going to go down.” Randy F. suggested this book review: The Penniless Billionaires: A Tour of Inflationary Eras Past and Present Items from The Economatrix: Cutoff of Jobless Aid Would Lower Economic Growth   Happy Holidays?  28 Hard Questions It Would Be Great If We Could Get Some Real Answers To   The Gold Standard …




Odds ‘n Sods:

Eric J. sent us the link to this fascinating article: Iowa’s hardest years: Stories from the farms during the Great Depression    o o o For anyone that missed hearing it live, here is the link to the podcast of my recent two hour Q&A interview on the EMPact America show.    o o o Steve K. sent this video: Nigel Farage (United Kingdom Independence Party President), Representative Member of the European Union speaks about Turkey’s admission to the European Union. Steve’s comment: “Sounds like our immigration policy here in the United States. Listen to the results that are anticipated.” …




Economics and Investing:

The latest video from the NIA is excellent: The Day the Dollar Died Regular link contributor B.B. sent this: Holidays about survival as jobless benefits end Also from B.B.: Russia’s central bank to invest reserves in Australian dollar. Reader J.B.G. sent this: Jeb Bush: Some States Already ‘Bankrupt’ Items from The Economatrix: The Euro Game Is Up   Euro, Stocks, Spanish Bonds Fall On Concern European Debt Crisis To Spread   New Phase Of Debt Crisis Striking Now!  Despite Rescues!   Global Sovereign Debt Default Bankruptcy Bailout And Contagion Risk Assessment   Huge Drop In Credit Card Users