Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today’s focus is on the Electrolux departure from Memphis. (See the Economy & Finance section.) Pictured is the storefront of an Electrolux dealer, more than five decades ago.
Precious Metals:
Mark Lundeen; Market Update For Early February 2019
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Gold falls as stocks gain on strong U.S. data, dollar firms
Economy & Finance (Electrolux):
At Wolf Street: Who Bought the Gigantic $1.5 Trillion of New US Government Debt Issued over the Past 12 Months?
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Terry sent us this: Electrolux of Memphis, which Took More Than $100 Million in Corporate Welfare, Calls it Quits. Terry’s Comments:
“It’s a no-brainer. My guess is that Electrolux took the bait, realized what they were dealing with, and left. Krogers, a major food retailer, did much the same a year or two ago – they simply refused to deal with the rampant crime anymore, so Memphis is now on the path of becoming a food “desert” as far as that’s concerned….Memphizuela perhaps. Nashville is on the cusp. Knoxville and Chattanooga are taking note.
Best to isolate that cr*phole and let it burn itself out, just like they need to do with virtually every large metropolitan area like Detroit, Baltimore, St. Louis, Chicago, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Birmingham, Buffalo, Cleveland, Richmond…you name it. There are exceptions, but they only prove the rule: urban = blight
Smart move might to begin plotting the urban area main channels of communication – ingress and egress – plan accordingly, especially if you’re stuck there – plan, plan, plan: primary, alternate, backup, and contingency.
As soon as the EBT switch is thrown, deliberate or consequent, it doesn’t matter which, Schumer will hit the Fan, and there will be a domino effect, just like the 1968 riots.
Rural areas will be fine IF they prepare, urban will implode, regardless – fallout is the concern. Build local resilience for food, water, medical, security, comms, and fuel – think about disease vectors and corpse disposal. What is your community-level susceptibility and vulnerability (for you dumb asses out there, the two are different.) What is the fire fighting capability, EMT’s, hospital carrying capacity, emergency powers – who’s your local sheriff and county commission members? Do you know them and do they know you?”
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The National Debt Math Doesn’t Add Up
Real Estate:
New Home Prices Drop 12% as Supply Surges
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January 2019 Data: January Housing Data Shows Uptick in Seller Price Cuts
Commodities:
The Next Big Threat For Oil Comes From China
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At Seeking Alpha: Soybeans rise after China deal but order won’t ease record U.S. stockpiles
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Reuters Survey: OPEC Production Drops Most In Two Years
Cryptos:
Why South Korea Had to Ban Crypto ICOs and Risk Losing Multi-Billion Dollar Opportunities
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Seven Cryptocurrencies that Surprisingly Outperformed Bitcoin in January
Tangibles Investing:
Jim Supica: How to be a Gun Collector
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Guns as Investments (Jim Carmichael)
Provisos:
SurvivalBlog and its Editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for our detailed disclaimers.
News Tips:
Please send your economics and investing news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant, because they come from folks who particularly watch individual markets. And due to their diligence and focus, we benefit from fresh “on target” investing news. We often get the scoop on economic and investing news that is probably ignored (or reported late) by mainstream American news outlets. Thanks!
About the brick and mortar meltdown. Ever wonder why the online giants are getting help from the Gov (like amazon and its USPS rates, special Sunday deliveries)? Maybe it has to do with controlling access to resources. If you want to control a populace access to goods, then you must control the distribution points for those goods. You can not be allowed to go to the local ‘mom and pop’ store and pay cash for goods. It is better for them that you need to purchase online where they can digitally track the goods, account for your purchases, and there is no fear that you have built any personal interactions or relationships with the vendor. How many of you knew people at the corner market growing up? Personal interactions and cash are hard for them to track.
Kinda like banning ammo and magazines instead of the guns.
Or, maybe the tinfoil is getting a little tight around my cranium.
Speaking of banning (or limiting) things, in regards to all the knee-jerk legislation passed by several states prohibiting gun sales to anyone under 21, I immediately thought to myself “if they can get away with this, what’s to stop them from changing the age to a higher number such as 65?”
Well, today’s headline regarding the Hawaii legislature considering a bill raising the smoking age to 100(!). HB 1509.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-02-06/nanny-state-hawaii-may-increase-smoking-age-100
I live and work in TN, my employer runs the breadth of the state. The Eastern part is vastly different from Western and Central TN, hence the 3-stars on the state flag! While Knoxville is a medium sized city, it is most certainly NOT a Memphrica or Nashville environment. I’ve been to all 3 for work, but live outside Knox. It’s got it’s problems (drugs, homeless), but is nothing like the other 2. I do however agree with the general conclusion that larger cities present a certain amount of inherent risk, I just hate seeing such broad conclusions.
Disease vectors? Los Angles has rats spreading typhus TODAY.
There’s hepatitis C going around.
Also, check out the CDC stats on STDs which Christians who practice shouldn’t be subject to, but what happens when the antivirals run out? Much less the antibiotics or they get more resistant.
Importing refugees with XDR Tuberculosis or measles or something else, or letting them come across here illegally doesn’t help.
One of the original problems with treating HIV is it wasn’t politically correct – you mean gay promiscuity in bathhouses can’t possibly be a problem? – It is a judgment of God. Neither, but politics makes for bad science and medicine, especially public health.
“There are exceptions, but they only prove the rule: urban = blight”
No, urban = most of the job and wealth creation in this country. The middle of nowhere is great until your kids need jobs and higher education.