Washington Triggers Permanently Higher Inflation

From Peter Reagan for Birch Gold Group

It’s quite possible that economic conditions are bad enough that price inflation will continue to persist, much like it did in the 1970s, and well into the 1980s.

In fact, three years into President Biden’s first term Americans are still spending a greater percentage of their income on food than at any point in the last 30 years:

That’s according to the latest data from the USDA, which shows that U.S. consumers spent more than 11% of their disposable income on eating – whether at home or at a restaurant – in 2022, the highest percentage since 1991.

But keep in mind that real costs for maintaining a consistent standard of living are probably closer to 10-12%. That’s according to Federal Reserve measurements from the 1980s, before economics became just another tool in the government’s propaganda.

Continue reading “Washington Triggers Permanently Higher Inflation”

It’s Not ‘Inflation’ — We’re Just Getting Ripped Off. Here’s Proof.

Guest Post by ,

It’s Not ‘Inflation’ — We’re Just Getting Ripped Off. Here’s Proof.

Many Americans are still experiencing the sticker shock they first faced two years ago when inflation hit its peak. But if inflation is down now, why are families still feeling the pinch?

The answer lies in corporate profits — and we have the data to prove it.

Our new report for the Groundwork Collaborative finds that corporate profits accounted for more than half — 53 percent — of inflation from April to September 2023. That’s an astronomical percentage. Corporate profits drove just 11 percent of price growth in the four decades prior to the pandemic.

Continue reading “It’s Not ‘Inflation’ — We’re Just Getting Ripped Off. Here’s Proof.”

CPI Reality Check: Chick-Fil-A Has Hiked Prices 21% In Just Two Years

Via ZeroHedge

While we keep letting the government tell us that inflation is at 3%, back out in the real world price hikes are staggeringly higher.

Just take one look at Chick-fil-A, for example: the popular fast food chain has hiked its prices a whopping 21% over the last two years, according to a new report from the NY Post.

In 2022, the chain first raised prices by 15%, the report says. In January 2023, the company then implemented a menu-wide 6% hike in prices, resulting in the average price of its chicken sandwich – which was under $5 in 2021 – to now cost $5.79.

The report notes that in high cost of living areas, like New York City, the same sandwich is going to run customers $6.99. An 8 piece nuggets, which would cost $5.99 elsewhere and which were also under $5 in 2021, now cost $7.09.

Continue reading “CPI Reality Check: Chick-Fil-A Has Hiked Prices 21% In Just Two Years”

Biden, Media Gaslight People about Inflation

Guest Post by Ron Paul

President Biden recently repeated the claim that high prices are caused by greedy businesses. Biden is not alone in trying to gaslight the people into thinking price inflation is rooted in the actions of private individuals and not the fiat money system Americans have lived under since 1971. In the media we see excessive consumer spending on luxury items, for example, being blamed for continued price inflation. The fact is that increased consumer demand can only cause prices to rise in those sectors of the economy subject to the increased demand. Prices increasing across the economy are always the result of the Federal Reserve’s conduct of monetary policy.

Continue reading “Biden, Media Gaslight People about Inflation”

More Americans Tapping Into Retirement Savings As ‘Hardship’ Withdrawals Rise

It just means Bidenomics is working.

Authored by Tom Ozimek via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

A significant jump in the number of Americans yanking money out of their 401(k) accounts to pay bills and buy necessities is the latest sign that the U.S. consumer is experiencing increasing levels of financial strain.

US dollar currency is counted in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 22, 2023. (Patrick T. Fallon /AFP via Getty Images)

 

A new report from Fidelity, the nation’s largest provider of 401(k) plans, reveals a troubling trend—Americans are increasingly tapping their retirement savings in the form of hardship withdrawals and loans.

The report shows that 2.3 percent of U.S. retirement plan participants took a hardship withdrawal in the third quarter of 2023, up from 1.8 percent in the third quarter of 2022.

Top reasons given for taking a hardship withdrawal were avoiding foreclosure or eviction and covering medical expenses.

Besides hardship withdrawals, there was also an increase in the number of Americans taking loans from their retirement savings accounts, with this share growing from 2.4 percent in the third quarter of 2023 to 2.8 percent in the comparable period in the prior year.

Continue reading “More Americans Tapping Into Retirement Savings As ‘Hardship’ Withdrawals Rise”

WHEN THE WALL STREET CABAL TOOK OVER AMERICA

The chart below reveals much about what has happened since Nixon closed the gold window in 1971, allowing politicians, controlled by the Wall Street banking cabal, to spend our country into $33 trillion of debt, while accumulating another $200 trillion of unfunded pension and welfare obligations. The age of the growing middle class ended in the early 1970’s after a couple decades of progress. Eisenhower and Kennedy were moderates, while the Fed was run by William McChesney Martin, who wasn’t afraid to pull away the punch bowl before the party got out of hand.

Continue reading “WHEN THE WALL STREET CABAL TOOK OVER AMERICA”

Brace Yourself for the Next Massive Inflation Surge

From Peter Reagan at Birch Gold Group

This week, Your News to Know rounds up the latest top stories involving gold and the overall economy. Stories include: The surprising motives behind inflation, unpacking central bank gold buying figures for 2023, and Turkey is becoming the world’s top consumer of gold out of necessity.

If inflation is bad, why do we have an inflation goal?

Egon von Greyerz recently analyzed the state of economic affairs. From gold to climate, a lot of the points he raises are striking, yet not likely to be covered by any mainstream outlet. His discussion of inflation, or rather its source, caught my eye.

We know the Federal Reserve has an inflation target of 2% annually. In recent years, they’ve missed that target consistently (from 390% over to today’s mere 60% over target). Inflation has been so high for so long that even getting back to 2% feels like victory.

von Greyerz addresses the elephant in the room: Why is the inflation rate not 0%? We should also address the most frightening of boogeymen, too… Why is deflation so terrifying?

Continue reading “Brace Yourself for the Next Massive Inflation Surge”

How Inflation Destroys Civilization… and What You Can Do About It

Guest Post by Nick Giambruno

Thanks to rampant inflation, socialism—and the poverty it inevitably brings—could soon become irreversibly entrenched in the US, just like in numerous Third World countries.

Rapidly rising food, housing, medical, and tuition prices are squeezing Americans—many do not understand the actual cause of their falling living standards.

The explosion in the cost of living is a predictable consequence of the Federal Reserve’s ongoing currency debasement.

Since the Covid mass hysteria, the Federal Reserve has printed more money than it has for the entire existence of the US.

From the founding of the US, it took over 227 years to print its first $6 trillion. But during Covid, the US government printed over $6 trillion in a matter of months.

It’s important to put such large numbers into context.

A trillion is a massive, almost unfathomable number.

Continue reading “How Inflation Destroys Civilization… and What You Can Do About It”

The Public’s Top if not ONLY Concern…

Guest Post by Martin Armstrong

@evolvetruth

Will we stand up? #Corecore #Costofliving #Wages #Capitalism #Leftist #Conservative

♬ original sound – Evolving Truth

INFLATION

The public is not concerned about “Russian aggression,” the Trump inditement, or even the MSM wrench about aliens. No one cares — the average person is struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living. Homelessness is on the rise as people cannot afford shelter. The blank checks to Ukraine are a slap in the face of those begging for help at home. These politicians need to work for us. No one campaigning is going to make a dent in the polls unless they clearly detail how they plan to address INFLATION! And no, the problem is not limited to America. The solution cannot be a universal income, currency, or Great Reset. The economy was strong before they attempted to BUILD BACK BETTER.

How we stopped inflation without a recession (hint: by not stopping inflation)

Guest Post by Alex Berenson

Do we really have no hangover after the largest economic orgy in history – more than $10 trillion in fiscal and monetary stimulus in 2020 and 2021? The charts below suggest we’re still just drunk.

The inflation crisis is over.

Or is it?

This morning a reader sent along an interesting analysis of Thursday’s supposedly positive inflation report showing that prices in July rose 3.2 percent annually – and an even more interesting chart.

First a little background. That 3.2 percent number is “headline” or overall inflation. That headline annual figure peaked at 9.1 percent in June 2022 and has since fallen sharply. Thus the growing consensus that inflation is back in check.

Continue reading “How we stopped inflation without a recession (hint: by not stopping inflation)”

Fed Stealthily Admits That Inflation Won – So What’s Next?

Via Birch Gold Group

The Fed Might Want Us to Get Used to 5 Percent Inflation

“All right, everybody, smile like inflation is totally under control…” IMF Photo by Cory Hancock

From Peter Reagan at Birch Gold Group

If you can see beyond the mainstream media’s attempted glossing over of President Biden’s failures, then one topic stands out: Historic inflation since June 2021.

Of course, Biden doesn’t deserve all of the blame for inflation heating up. After all, the previous administration spent trillions, and Powell’s Fed practically ignored it until the “inflation train” had already left the station.

Now, it looks as though the price inflation that’s been siphoning our savings could be sticking around for quite a while longer. It could even become “business as usual.”

To illustrate this, we’ll start with some of Powell’s recent remarks on the future of rates for the next 6 months:

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Wednesday affirmed that more interest rate increases are likely ahead as inflation is “well above” where it should be. “Inflation pressures continue to run high, and the process of getting inflation back down to 2% has a long way to go,” he said. Powell said the labor market is still tight though there are signs that conditions are loosening.

He noted that the number of open jobs still far exceeds the available labor pool.

Powell even included a deadline with his remarks: “Nearly all FOMC participants expect that it will be appropriate to raise interest rates somewhat further by the end of the year.”

Continue reading “Fed Stealthily Admits That Inflation Won – So What’s Next?”

The Most Important Time to Own Gold

Via Birch Gold Group

The Most Important Time To Own Gold

From Peter Reagan at Birch Gold Group

This week, Your News to Know rounds up the latest top stories involving gold and the overall economy. Stories include: John Williams on why inflation is worse than presented, Poland wants more gold, and Korea introduces gold ATMs.

John Williams: When inflation is really this bad, you need physical gold

John Williams is perhaps best known for his ShadowStats website, which provides inflation updates based on the measurements formerly used by the Federal Reserve. In the 1980s, the government decided that inflation was more of a marketing problem than a financial problem – and subsequently changed the way Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers are captured and reported.

Continue reading “The Most Important Time to Own Gold”