Being "real tangible assets," houses tend to act as inflation hedges. But in recent times they have appreciated by multiples of the inflation rate. This is due more to loose lending practices that to loose monetary policy. In the following article David Galland addresses the current state of housing prices and where they might be headed. ~Tim McMahon, editor Should You Buy a House Now? By David Galland, Managing Editor, The Casey Report Recently, we have had a number of queries about real estate. And no wonder. For starters, real estate prices have come down. Plus, in an environment with next to zero interest rates, the idea of possibly picking up some income-producing property on the … [Read more...]
Uncle Scam
by David Galland, Partner, Casey ResearchThe latest data on global gold trends, Q2 2010, just popped into my email box from the World Gold Council. The bad news is that the higher nominal price of gold has caused a 5% decrease in jewelry sales over the prior year. If you’re thinking “Hey, that’s not that bad!”, you’d be right. On this date last year, gold closed at $950… which is $286 below where it trades as I write. In other words, a 30% rise in price has resulted in a decrease of just 5% in jewelry sales. And even that number is skewed, because the currency value of the gold purchased is up – way up. For example, India – the 800-pound gorilla in the global gold jewelry market – … [Read more...]
Which is Stronger- Inflation or Deflation?
By Tim McMahon, editor Why the Printing Press is No Match for Deflationary Forces- A mere two years ago (although it seems like a lifetime) in August of 2008, inflation was roaring in at 5.37% and the world was talking about hyperinflation. But then along came the housing crash which started the domino effect of deflationary forces. Housing prices, stock prices, asset prices all began falling; triggering margin calls and more liquidation until even Gold (the only investment that is not simultaneously a liability) began to feel the deflationary pressure. By July 2009 a mere 11 months later, everyone was no longer afraid of the inflation monster, but now they were fearing deflation. At … [Read more...]
20 Questions with the World’s Leading Deflationist
20 Questions with the World's Leading -- Perhaps Only True -- Deflationist, Robert Prechter Robert Prechter, the world's leading proponent of the deflationary scenario, answers tough questions from noted financial commentator Jim Puplava. Anyone looking to invest in today's environment should read this revealing new 20-page report. Consider these recent forecasts: In 2005, Prechter warned readers of an imminent top in real estate. In October 2007, Prechter warned that stocks and commodities were historically overvalued and due for an immediate crash. In 2008, Prechter maintained that the U.S. dollar would rally throughout the most volatile market environment since the Great … [Read more...]
Deflation: First Step, Understand It
There is still time to prepare if deflation is indeed in our future. "Fed's Bullard Raises Specter of Japanese-Style Deflation," read a July 29 Washington Post headline. When the St. Louis Fed Chief speaks, people listen. Now that deflation -- something that EWI's president Robert Prechter has been warning about for several years -- is making mainstream news headlines, is it too late to prepare? It's not too late. There are still steps you can take if deflation is indeed in our future. The first step is to understand what it is. So we've put together a special, free, 60-page Club EWI resource, "The Guide to Understanding Deflation: Robert Prechter’s most important warnings about … [Read more...]
If Deflation Wins, What Will Gold Stocks Do?
By Jeff Clark, Senior Editor, Casey’s Gold & Resource Report The talk of a possible double dip is now common banter on TV investment programs. And indeed, deflationary forces seem to have the stronger grip right now than inflationary ones. So if deflation is the next reality we have to face, what happens to our favorite stock investments? There’s lots of data about what gold does during periods of high inflation, but less so with deflation, partly because we don’t see a true deflation all that often. But of course we’ve got the biggie we can look at, and the seriousness of the Great Depression can give us a big clue as to how gold stocks behave in a true deflationary … [Read more...]
What is the Ultimate Status Symbol in a Deflationary Depression?
Deflationary Depression: Ultimate Status Symbol The Biggest House? No. The Most Expensive Car? Try Again. By Robert Jay Ostentatious display defined the "Gilded Age" in the latter part of the 19th century. Most of the upper class in that period believed that if you had a big bank account, you should make sure everyone knew it. A century later -- during the bull market of the 1980s-1990s -- "McMansions" with BMWs in the garage became more common. Pulling out the plastic and enjoying instant gratification became pervasive. In most decades of the past century, families had to save for big ticket items, perhaps even save all year to ensure holiday presents under the tree. To take … [Read more...]
The Effects of Fiscal Stimulus are Wearing Thin
The following is an excerpt from Casey's Daily Dispatch... an ezine with thought provoking commentary that I thought you might find interesting. ~ Tim McMahon, Editor Words from the Wise By David Galland, I would like to share just a few snippets I think you’ll benefit from, starting with the latest posting from Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, which you can read in full here. Here’s an excerpt: Today’s release on manufacturing activity by the Richmond Fed is pretty ghastly, as you would expect given that the effects of fiscal stimulus are now wearing off at accelerating pace – before the happy handover to the private sector is safely consummated – and given that the structural … [Read more...]
Deflation: The Black Swan Has Been Spotted
By Nico Isaac Up until recently, the mainstream experts put the likelihood of deflation transpiring in the United States at whatever the current odds are of Mel Gibson finding a date; i.e. nill to none. Their catchphrase for the rare and unexpected nature of a deflationary event was "Black Swan." And as the following news items from 2008-2010 show, very few imagined this "bird" migrating onto the economic shore: Oct. 20, 2008: "Central banks of the world know how to stop deflation. You just print enough money." (Reuters) Jan. 19, 2009: "US Deflation Unlikely. The tremendous stimulus from the US administration... should prevent the recession from dragging on long enough for deflation … [Read more...]
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