Global Economic Growth Has Peaked, Says World Bank

by

Ageing populations, low investment and tightening monetary policy limit expansion via Shawn Donnan Global growth appears to have peaked, with demographics, a lack of investment, a slowing in productivity gains and tightening monetary policy placing limits on economic expansion, the World Bank said. The world’s economic output grew 3 per cent last year as more than … Read more

The Municipal Debt Crisis Begins

by

by Martin Armstrong I have previously reported that about 50% of German municipalities are insolvent. This is a global trend and we are witnessing it in the United States as well. The North Rhine-Westphalian Association of Cities has called for help from the future German federal government as the building crisis among financially weak municipalities continue … Read more

Social Security proposes “immediate and permanent reduction” in benefits

by

by Simon Black On a deep, dark evening last June in the spectacularly celestial deserts of northern Chile, scientists made a phenomenal discovery. It was a supernova… one that they named ASASSN-15lh. This wasn’t just any supernova. It was the BIGGEST and BRIGHTEST supernova ever recorded. Supernovas are exploding stars whose ejected mass and energy can … Read more

Bank loans and macro analysis

by

by WARREN MOSLER Bank lending began to decelerate after oil related capital spending collapsed late in 2014, and then collapsed further about the time of the presidential election: Note the consumer ‘dipping into savings’ some to sustain consumption via borrowing into year end as personal income flattened: Real disposable personal income flattened and consumer spending slowed … Read more

Consumer Credit, Small business index, JOLTS, Rig counts

by

by WARREN MOSLER Things are starting to add up better with this jump in consumer borrowing. With real disposable personal income growth near 0, and spending growing at just over 2.5% through November, it’s now looking like consumers ‘dipped into savings’ by running up their credit card balances which tends to be followed by reductions in … Read more

Are Yields About To Rocket? Or Is This Another Head-Fake?

by

by stockboardasset Overnight, the BOJ trimmed its purchases of long-dated gov’t bonds, which sent global yields higher. In the United States, the UST10Y stands at 2.548, nearing a critical breakout level of 2.64. Global traders are concerned about the BOJ unwinding loose money policies, which would result in a taper tantrum globally. On top of the JPN woes, … Read more

President Trump Signs an Executive Order “Supporting our Veterans During Their Transition from Uniformed Service to Civilian Life”

by

What’s the bill consist of? The Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security will work to expand mental health programs and other resources to new Veterans to the year following departure from uniformed service, including eliminating prior time limits and: Expanding peer community outreach and group sessions in the VA Whole Health initiative from … Read more

IS IT TIME TO SHORT OIL?

by

by stockboardasset We ask the one question: Is It Time To Short Oil? In the Periscope broadcast, we analyze four timeframes of oil, including commodities indexes, plus oil’s volatility. After a near +48% advancement from the summer of 2017, WTI could be in a heavy resistance area from 60-62. The major line in the sand we watch: 61.25 for … Read more

SOMETHING MAJOR Planned For 2018?! If Not, Then Why Is THIS Happening?

by

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj8t7yDDYns MAJOR ALERT!! Per The State of the Union Address that will be held on Tue., Jan. 30th, 2018 — Every Jan. 2018 is also when U.S. federal agencies quietly prepare for the change in the Continuity of Government Condition (COGCON) level during the annual State of the Union Address. The Continuity of Government Readiness … Read more

"I'm Not Negotiating With You!" Sarah Sanders Destroys CNN Reporter Jim Acosta Over DACA

by

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZR_C0EsCZA “I’m Not Negotiating With You!” Sarah Sanders Destroys CNN Reporter Jim Acosta Over DACA Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders Rips into Jim Acosta For Lying About DACA Negotiations this is breaking news today from the white house press briefing, during the sarah sanders press briefing lots of reporters asked about daca and the wall … Read more

Consumer Credit – Borrowers go all in

by

by SpontaneousDisorder Interesting to compare the current cycle to before the financial crisis. Consumers have been going crazy by this measure. The recent increase mirrors the excitement we’re seeing in financial markets (stocks, bitcoin etc). Probably the final months of the greatest bubble in history. I think this is a sign of maxing out credit … Read more