Category: Economics & Investing

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at California’s $20 minimum wage law. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: Despite some profit-taking, the precious metals bull market is looking more solid with every passing week. At last glance, on Thursday evening, 11 April: Gold: $2,400.40, up 1.76% for the day. Another all-time high. Silver $28.95, up 2.01% for …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, another look at the effects of inflation. (See the Inflation/Deflation Watch section.) Precious Metals: The precious metals rally is continuing. As of Friday, April 5th, 2024 (AM): Gold: $2,340.30, up $37.50 for the day.  (Another all-time high.) Silver: $27.60, up $0.24 for the day. Published on Wednesday: Gold Prices Have Surged 23.3% in the Last …


March 2024 in Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran

Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, presented by Gainesville Coins. Each month we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals. We cover gold’s performance and the factors that affected gold prices. What Did Gold Do in March? Boy, did anyone see this coming? I actually lost count of how many record highs gold hit this month. Gold futures and spot gold both started the month with new all-time highs. $2,095 an ounce for futures, $2,083 for spot. Futures ended the month $143 higher at $2,238 an ounce, and spot gold gained $150 after finishing …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at some new taxes and proposed taxes. (See the Taxes section.) Precious Metals: The spot and futures prices of gold and silver kept up great strength this week. As of Thursday evening (March 28, 2024), here is a snapshot of the spot market: Gold: $2,247.30 USD per Troy ounce — up $42.00 (1.88%) …


Update: A 21st Century Tangibles Investing Rationale

Introductory Note:  This is an update and substantial expansion to an article that I posted to SurvivalBlog back in 2018. — I often have people ask me: “Why do you stress tangibles investing, Mr. Rawles?” In my estimation, tangibles always trump intangibles. I have three primary reasons why I distrust intangibles: First: Nearly all intangible investments are denominated in fiat currencies. Because of this there is an underlying currency inflation, revaluation, or repudiation risk. Even when buying stock in the safest, most secure and impeccably-managed company it still has some risk when the investment is denominated in Dollars. Ditto for …


Silver Stacking: Patience and Persistence Pays Off

I have been a “silver stacker” for many years. With money earned mowing lawns, at age 16 I started buying pre-1965 mint-date “junk”  U.S. silver dimes and quarters in 1976 at a small local coin shop in Livermore, California. It was called Bob’s Coin Corner. Bob was patient in explaining silver coins to me.  In 1979 I sold nearly half of my silver coins just after silver peaked, when spot silver was at $47.75 per Troy ounce. I started buying some silver and gold again in June of 1987, when silver was at $8.98 per ounce. A practical silver investor …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at the planned European CBDC. (See the Forex & Cryptos section.) Precious Metals: At John Rubino’s substack: Accidentally Funny CNBC Grapples With Costco Gold Sales. o  o  o At Gold-Eagle.com: Gold Stocks Strongly Outperform After Gold Breakouts. JWRs Comment: Since starting SurvivalBlog in 2005, I’ve refrained from touting gold mining stocks. In my estimation …


Shortages? Why?, by Patrice Lewis

Introductory Note From JWR: This article was first posted in the excellent Rural Revolution homesteading blog.  It is reposted with permission. — I have a friend in Maine. Last week she e-mailed and said, “I noticed in the past few weeks big gaps on shelves in the grocery store in next town. In two areas today, all the shelves – top, middle, and bottom, for 1/4 length of the aisle – were completely empty! To be honest, I don’t know what was there, but it’s not there now. And the prices!!!!!!! Eggs are $4.59, a can of SPAM is $4.39. …


Why The US Economy is Actually A Disaster In Progress, by Brandon Smith

One of my favorite false narratives floating around corporate media platforms has been the argument that the American people “just don’t seem to understand how good the economy really is right now.” If only they would look at the stats, they would realize that we are in the middle of a financial renaissance, right? It must be that people have been brainwashed by negative press from conservative sources… I have to laugh at this claim because it’s a very common one throughout history – It’s an assertion made by almost every single political regime right before a major collapse. These …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at spiking olive oil prices. (See the Commodities section.) Precious Metals: The recent rally in gold is continuing, albeit with some profit-taking. My gut tells me that in a few months folks will consider $2,200 USD per Troy ounce the new floor, for spot gold. o  o  o From chartist Mark Lundeen, at Gold-Eagle.com: …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at record-high gold futures prices, in Dollar terms. (See the Precious Metals section.) Precious Metals:   Published on Tuesday: ‘We Have Liftoff!’ – Spot Gold Takes Out Record High.  JWR’s Comments: The fundamentals of gold haven’t changed, as a hedge. It is the U.S. Dollar that is showing its inherent weakness.  Oh, and …


February 2024 in Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran

Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, presented by Gainesville Coins. Each month, we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals. We cover gold’s performance and the factors that affect gold prices. What Did Gold Do in February? Everything moved against gold in February. Hot inflation numbers and a stronger dollar pushed back the probable date for the Fed’s first rate cut. A huge tech bubble in stocks pulled money out of bonds and other safe havens to chase record stock prices. Spot gold started February at $2,054 an ounce and ended the month $20 …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, another look at the Evergrande debacle. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: Global Silver Demand Forecasted to Rise to 1.2 Billion Ounces in 2024. o  o  o Over at Gold-Eagle.com:  Andy Schectman: $2,000 Floor For Gold Continues To Hold. Economy & Finance: In China, the other shoe has dropped, to wit: Evergrande shares …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at looming layoffs. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Precious Metals: At Gold-Eagle.com: Gold at $3,000 by 2025? Citi Analysts Don’t Rule it Out. o  o  o Chinese Wholesale Gold Demand Sets January Record. Economy & Finance: Layoffs are looming: Former Home Depot CEO sounds alarm on ‘tremendous shift’ in labor market. o  o  …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, a further examination of Mainland China’s economic trouble. (See the Mainland China Economy Update section.) Precious Metals: Online Auction Features Hoard of 1,700 Morgan Silver Dollars from Single-Owner Collection. o  o  o Silver Demand Expected to Hit Second-Highest Level on Record in 2024. o  o  o At Gold-Eagle.com: Central Bank Gold Buying in 2023 Topped …