A few days after the terror attack of 9-11-01, someone in media asked George W. Bush what Americans can do to help. Dubya’s response drew instant criticism, because he asked people to go shopping… but in the big picture, President Bush knew what could happen if the economic freeze continued.
When it comes to politics and economic outlooks, trust your instincts. The economics of the ‘thing’ is always the reason the ‘thing’ exists or does not exist.
When you are looking at economic news, always remind yourself… the people producing the news have a vested interest in maintaining a very specific outlook. The motive behind what Dubya said in September of 2001, pertains every bit as much today. Economic outcomes can topple entire governments.
Remember, this current ‘supply-side energy policy driven inflation‘, a purposeful effort to shrink the economy and yet tenuously maintain control, has never happened before. The people behind the Build Back Better agenda are, in reality, experimenting with a theory. DATA…
(ISM) – The Institute for Supply Management’s PMI contracted for the fifth straight month in March registering 46.3, the lowest level since May 2020. Any reading below 50.0 indicates contraction. The employment index declined by 2.2 percent to a level of 46.9.
Most of the impediments to manufacturing growth — such as shortages and lockdowns — have subsided, said Tim Fiore, chair of the ISM’s manufacturing survey committee, with the exception of pricing. ISM’s pricing index fell below 50 in March but at 49.2 remains higher than pre-pandemic levels.
“The beginning of the second half may not be the beginning of a recovery,” said Fiore. “Manufactures reduced headcounts because of uncertainty of demand and over-ordering has burned off. Demand isn’t coming back quickly enough to support current headcounts.”
All these trends were prevalent in March, he added, although the PMI has only lost 3 to 4 points since October 2022.
Back in December, ISM panelists anticipated an uptick in demand by the beginning of Q2. “We thought this recovery would be lumpy, but I think this indicates the recovery has been delayed,” Fiore said. “I think we are talking about expansion toward the end of Q3—it’s unlikely we’ll see a lot of activity in the summer.” (read more)
It’s not a recovery now, it will not be a recovery this year.
On a per unit basis, we have been in an economic contraction cycle since mid 2021. However, because economic outcomes are measured in dollars, the shrinking unit output, and the fewer units being sold at wholesale and retail level, is being hidden.
Inflation has hidden serious drops in unit purchases…. and fewer unit purchases mean lowered production output…. and lowered production output means less production is needed.
(CNBC SURVEY) – Inflation, economic instability and a lack of savings have an increasing number of Americans feeling financially stressed.
Some 70% of Americans admit to being stressed about their personal finances these days and a majority — 52% — of U.S. adults said their financial stress has increased since before the Covid-19 pandemic began in March 2020, according to a new CNBC Your Money Financial Confidence Survey conducted in partnership with Momentive.
Anxious and uncertain about whether they can get a better handle on their money, some may be intimidated by the prospect of creating a budget or unsure of where to stash their cash to get the highest returns. Others may be wondering how to begin saving for retirement when they’ve gotten off to a late start.
“People are worried that the money they’ve saved won’t last and are worried they’re going to have to lean more on their credit cards and other sources of debt just to get by,” said Bruce McClary, a senior vice president at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. (read more)
If you want to know what’s going on in the larger U.S. economy, just look around you.
Don’t turn on the television and read the newspaper to see what is happening in the U.S. economy for your purchasing or life planning. Just look around you.
Look at restaurants and bars. Do you see continued high-volume business or not.
Look at the grocery stores. Do you see continued optimism, or not.
Look at the malls and shopping centers. Do you see foot traffic, or not.
Look at the real estate in your neighborhood – your local view. Do you see prices going up or going down.
That’s the reality of the economy as it impacts you….. and critically, that’s the reality of the economy nationwide.
When it comes to data and economics, do not let the media created ‘illusion of the thing‘ cloud your ability to see the reality of the thing.
Trust your instincts.
People afraid of the future spend their money differently than secure people do. The elite have been using fear to control the people — and there are consequencs.
The same with small and medium sizes companies. We’re back in the Obama days where companies had money but would reluctantly spend on capital improvements. It took about a year into Trump’s presidency for companies believing the economy turn and unleashed capital for equipment.
Biden’s energy policy is killing this country. There’s no reason other than this administration wants to remove the middle class.
And now, IF companies want access to capital, they need to run the woke gauntlet, hire some woke DEI instructors and advertising execs to ruin their brand, in order to improve their “score” on the alphabet meter.
And, it will NEVER be enough to satisfy them.
Made comment wrong place.
Mike, you hit the nail on the head so to speak! The middle class MUST BE CRUSHED in order for the 10th plank of the Communist Manifesto to be completed.
Home improvement/construction has dried up in my Long Island town.
Home Depot is essentially empty most times I’m there.
Maybe it’s because there was so much activity after the lockdowns, which makes little difference to the home improvement guys without work today.
Home Depot and Lowe’s are packed here in Florida.
Mine too! People buying things to plant a garden.
They are here on weekends but there’s actually a few parking spaces open on weekdays at my stores. This area has a lot of retirees that shop during the week so day of the week doesn’t usually matter as much.
probably because the hurricane created a big need & demand.
that’s almost a variation of the “broken windows”fallacy, which posits that enough destruction would cause the economy to boom.
well, of course, with hurricanes and such
SoCal, too.
I would caution against just using your eyes and engage your brain as well. In metro Phoenix, bars and restaurants, shopping malls etc are full. Grocery stores likewise. Real estate values down maybe 10% from peak but generally steady for now. The question is where are the people getting their money and who is buying the real estate. Behind the scenes many real estate developers are pulling out of deals, lots of empty commercial properties and that is not visible to the eye yet unless you really look. Use your brain and understand it all has to end at some point, just not yet here at least based on eyesight alone.
I believe we’re in for a repeat of 2007, I have a business in Tempe and own some property.
This is going to be worse.
I think contrary to the NEWS, the dolllar will make a moon shot. Have cash on hand, beginning Now.
My theory: people are maxing out credit cards, rolling like they used to before the plandemic and fooling themselves into thinking things are back to normal. Huge denial going on out there. My $02.
Yes they are and the restaurants appear to be doing a moderate to high business depending on the time of the day, grocery stores have plenty of customers. (SWFL)
FL is one of the places people are moving to.
Yes. I had a list of minor home repairs no contractor would do and suddenly there were many takers.
I had a minor roof repair. I talked to a guy from a fairly well-known roofing company on Friday, 3/31, at their booth at a huge street festival in town (200K plus attendees over 3 days). I called for an appointment Friday afternoon, he came Monday, 4/3, at 9 a.m. to give me a quote and repair was made the next day. He SAID my small job just fit in their schedule but I don’t know… Same thing happened with tree trimming. We got the quote on Monday and work was done on Wednesday.
If they are getting you in that fast- there is no work. As SD said- look around and make your assessments and decisions. I’m sure you already have….you alluded as much.
My thoughts exactly. He is supposed to come collect the money after he inspects the work. It’s been a week and I haven’t heard from him but I can see the repair from the ground – advantage of a one story house – and no leak this past weekend. I’ll call him on Friday if I don’t hear from him. I would think they wanted the money fast if the business was slow.
I had a tree trimming guy give me a quote and he asked if I would be willing to let him schedule the time and pay cash. I asked why the schedule was important. He said that my job would be perfect to squeeze between other jobs but he would call me with only a couple of hours notice. He then quoted the job at 1/2 what another wanted. I shook on it and gave him my number. I heard nothing for a couple of days and then I got a call one morning. “I will be there this afternoon.” Perfect.
Our tree trimmers wanted cash, no receipt. The guy who did the trimming suggested I take a picture of him with the cash.
I had a problem Friday with my garbage disposal. I called our plumber Friday morning at 8am. The owner called back at 9:30 am and said he would swing by at 10:30 am. Normally I wouldn’t even get a call back until a couple of days later, and one of his workers would do the job a few days after that.
Mike: In Los Angeles, single-family home construction and renovation is zooming along. I don’t know where people get the money.
Central Florida, Ocala-Gainesville-Dunnellon-Anthony
The building is non stop, and you can’t get any trades to call you back in 2 weeks.
Ever since the World Equestrian Center opened in 2020, Ocala and the surrounding area has been flooded with money.
The last 6 months tho, horses have taken a lot longer to sell and prices of horses are starting to fall a bit.
Our daughter needs her house painted in Boise. We thought she would have trouble getting anyone to paint it and she , her husband and their son would have to do a half assed job. Hah! Seven painting contractors are trying to outbid each other.
My area of central North Carolina seems to be chugging right along. The interstates are busy, the restaurants are full and new industry is coming in.
I live in a very conservative rural area in Colorado.
We are still seeing a lot of construction with quite a bit of people doing their own home improvement which is how most of us here have always done thing, ourselves.
I have seen lots of people driving home with trailers loaded down with lumber that I will make a good guess is going to be used either for an addition or some kind of improvement.
A mile down the road north of us a young man and his family started building a new house.
This is a home for the young guy and his young family on about five acres he bought a few years ago.
He and a few of his brothers and cousins can been seen working on it for a few hours after their work during the week and all day Saturday and often on Sunday.
A half a mile south of us a new house has just been completed for an older couple by a construction company.
We live in a very rural area but you can see new homes going in on the corners of farmers fields every where.
We just got back from town earlier and I noticed that most of the restaurants seemed to be fairly busy.
The shoppers in the stores are not buying gobs of stuff, mostly practical things.
We are a rural area that does not usually see the boom and bust or the up and down of economics and the people here are very hard working and do it your selfers.
They are use to making and fixing and creating solutions for problems of all kinds and help each other out.
Hard to make these people flinch at hard times, they are tough.
Here’s a couple easy ways to check home sales and listing trends, some may find useful.
Use excel to chart home sales value data trends for your zip code using this raw data:
https://www.zillow.com/research/data/
Check home listing price adjustment trends for your zip code:
https://trends.pillr.io/
No way, in a sane world, that my house is worth what Zillow says…no way I’d pay that 🤣.
How are younger people supposed to afford a home? But that’s their whole idea, right? Make it so they have to rent or be in debt up to their eyeballs if they could even qualify for a loan. 🤬
Exactly, I’d sell if I had another place to go, seeing the direction things are headed in my area. My wife won’t go for it though.
I would think about selling (reside in Boise, Idaho). However, I like my 2.67% rate and will never see that again once I sell.
20 and 30 year olds have been told all though school that capitalism is a dead end.
Of course it’s not, but in this economy which has been destroyed by Biden, they’ll look around and say, yep capitalism sucks. I’ll never be able to buy a home.
They’ll never know it didn’t have to be this way.
Things change.
When we were looking into buying our first home the interest rates were around 18% and we were so discouraged.
So many, including us, were so discouraged thinking we could never buy our own home but things did change.
Not only were we able to eventually buy our first small home but we were able to buy a bigger one and eventually a lot of ag ground.
Interest rates went down, way way down.
Nothing stays the same, tell the kids to hang on.
Your house is worth what what Zillow or whoever says it is worth only if someone is willing to pay it and you are willing to sell.
As for the “valued at” price?
In Texas every year as the “appraised value” goes up, so do our property taxes…and they are crippling. Do younger hopeful buyers consider costs post sale like that I wonder.
Taxing “unrealized capital gains”.
Our house to us is not worth what “they” say it is…we’ve no intention of selling.
So we “own” our home, but actually the State of Texas is the shadow owner.
The vilest tax is inheritance tax, and I consider property taxes the second.
I taught my kids when they were little that you never truly ‘own’ your home. Even if it’s paid off, if you can’t pay the taxes they can come and take it. That was in the 70’s-80’s.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
We taught ours as you have, Jude…and now our grandchildren. We’d be failing them if we didn’t.
“Your house is worth what what Zillow or whoever says it is worth only if someone is willing to pay it and you are willing to sell.
As for the “valued at” price?”
Isn’t that what Trump got into trouble over with the lady AG…..? Inflated property values….
Apparently she failed to take into account that those might have been his asking price but actual property prices depend on what someone will pay, too.
Absolutely correct. Otherwise known as the destructive “wealth tax”. Dems hate wealth, you know.
…except theirs.
They like yours, too, and plan to steal it.
They steal it little by little…every single day of every single month in every single year. In various and sundry ways, some seen clearly but most hidden.
In the way thieves do. And if you don’t give it to them willingly, they threaten with menaces.
In the way despots and totalitarians always do.
Land of the Free??
I don’t think so.
If you have cash and the transaction is left solely between buyer and seller.
If the buyer must borrow the money to purchase the property then the lending institution will order an appraisal that will define “market value”.
This Market Value is a value that is reached by three different approaches, the comparison approach with looks for property that is a comparable to your subject property, the income approach which looks at similar properties that owners rent and have an income stream they can rate from and the cost approach which uses figures of cost that are acquired from builders in your area and then multiplied by the SF of the subject property.
All three approaches are developed, a dollar value is acquired from each and then using all three one final dollar value or Market Value is decided.
Phew! Hope I was able to explain that, I am not very good at explaining and usually leave people more confused than I leave them understanding.
Property taxes mean we are actually renting from the government. The “values” are unrealized income and should be illegal. I think there needs to be a nationwide movement to get the government off our property.
It’s immoral.
I agree.
I agree and it is a real pain in the neck.
If you feel that you assessed value is too high you can usually file a complaint and challenge the county.
At least we can here in Colorado.
A few years back our county got busy and assessed a lot of properties pretty high, a lot higher than the owners thought they should be.
We were one of them, so we filed our complaint and the county came and looked and agreed they were too high.
I think they agreed because every one was so mad and up in arms.
But they can not just assign an arbitrary value.
They must go through the proper process of all three approaches and if they choose inappropriate comparisons and you have better ones then try to file a complaint.
Colorado fixed the ability to counter a too high assessed property value. The assessor just uses a computer model to assess your property tax. The schools are swimming in money with every amenity and teachers totally woke.
Furries are encouraged and maybe parents are afraid to speak up. Truly sick IMO.
Betsy, some of what you talked about began hitting the fan about a year ago in parts of Texas that have had huge growth from other states!
Millennials and others had been buying huge homes, (4,000-6,000 sq. ft), and THEN, they got their EXORBITANTLY raised property tax bills about a year ago, and raised cane!
And THEN, they got their UTILITY BILLS with the MASSIVE ADJUSTED electricity cost because of the Freezilla and the switch from coal powered plants, and they had another conniption!
DITTO with their water bills!
THEN, they started trying to do something about it! Said they might have to move.
Some of the utility bills have quickly climbed to $1,500 a month during peak times, and the property taxes grew exponentially. People have been replacing their lawns with rocks due to the cost of water and the restrictions on using it.
Even long-timers whose homes are paid for have been severely affected.
I haven’t heard the millennial crowd and newcomers having the fits about those things lately, but I suspect they’ll start back up this summer.
The sneaky way the utility company handled it was to only charge the massive extra power fees in the off-season – not when the bills were already super high. So, now, the bills are high the whole year!
As far as the housing prices, they are still selling, but most of them aren’t selling as fast, some of them are having to drop prices, and there are not many situations where there’s a bidding war over the asking price like there was before.
If you’re planning to move to Texas, because of the lack of a state income tax, be aware, we have property taxes!
And sales taxes…6.25%
Born and reared in Texas. She isn’t the state that she was, that’s for sure. Property tax relief slips off the tongues of smooth speaking legislators around election time and as quickly falls by the. wayside.
Texas Rancher, we look at these big houses all around us with their tall roofs and landscaped yards… and everytime we see one, we say we’d hate to shoulder their A/C and water bills…and heating ones as well given our past few winters.
And observing what seems to be a young contingent with budding families living in them, I always wonder how they manage to do so. I wonder if they ever look ahead before they with the papers.
use the sold function on realtor dot com
True Jeanine.
The listing price on these real estate blogs are often pretty far off the contract price and even then a few contracts will fall through because the buy can not get a loan.
Take all of those prices suggest on those places with a huge grain of salt.
I tried that ‘trends’ and my zip code lists nothing…LOL! I guess I don’t exist. there were also no results for my zip code on Zillow.
Spoke to family member this morning who is upset because almost all the Weight Watcher meetings have been closed and they are only offering a digital membership in her area now. The woman she spoke with said they have closed hundreds of WW meeting places. She said they just don’t have the customers because nobody can afford it.
<….they have closed hundreds of WW meeting places. She said they just don’t have the customers because nobody can afford it.>
So you’re saying…
WW customers have gone from Weight Watchers to Wallet Watchers? 🙂
Peoples’ wallets are losing weight faster than they are…
lol ….. well played!
Have heard the same in my neck of the Chicago ‘burbs.
No need for WW when you can’t afford to eat food.
Watch movies from the ’70s or check out old photos – couldn’t afford to be ob*se back then.
We were tiny back then!
No high fructose corn syrup then. Food/drinks were processed with real sugar.
Yeah, I could lose a few pounds, however, I have kept the clothes I can no longer fit into comfortably. I might lose weight out of necessity soon.
Well if food prices keep going up losing too much weight will become the new problem.
My instincts told me to start raising chickens two years ago. I’m glad I listened.
In hindsight it is easy to see the times when it is the Holy Spirit guiding me in the right direction…
Very important thing you did there. I hope you also got a rooster?
People laugh at me when I tell them I can make 42 meals out of 2 chickens, but I can, and I do!
We didn’t get one that first year, but we got one last April. If and when our snow ever melts, we are going to try raising some of our own brood this year…
Try raising silkies. They’re fantastic mothers and will hatch eggs laid for you by other, bigger birds who may not be great broodies. 🙂
Better to raise ducks. Their eggs are unbelievable.
Anyone who can’t see the coming financial collapse is blind or choosing not to see it. With the financial collapse and the willful destruction of any morality, the evil destroying America couldn’t be any more evident if it tried. Stolen elections, acceptance of perversion and depravity, 2 tiered justice, etc, etc, seems pretty clear this battle is taking a really ugly turn.
How many times can this old retired lady upvote you? 🙂 In total agreement.
Oldretiredguy: I won’t be happy until everyone else is miserable. 🤣
Org,
I feel that we are passing, or have passed the point when blindness can be an explanation.
Helen Keller can see it all, including the obvious spiritual battle taking place, and the Worldly ramifications.
Its that “river in Egypt” of Denial, that keeps people from seeing the truth.
And eventually, denial is broken down, by reality.
The economy is complicated because of all the interacting parties and differing opinions throughout. Even here on the Treehouse, we’ve been waiting for the collapse and it doesn’t appear to be happening by all the published indicators. I can actually give people a pass on not being aware of what is coming and how bad it will be economically because it is difficult to research and wade through all of the theories and forces.
For example, people don’t realize what Sundance pointed out: that the strength in the numbers being reported are the result of inflated pricing. Unemployment doesn’t appear to be rising yet according to the reports, and new job creation as reported is staying high.
I wish there was a way to explain the crumbling foundations clearly and slimply enough to register with the masses.
Cost of GAS and FOOD are the 1st obvious indicators.
Then the cost of ALL SERVICES AND PRODUCTS.
John 12:40
the beatings will continue until morale improves
The question is not whether we can see it or not. The question is timing, magnitude, and sequence.
The San Andreas fault will rupture, throwing as significant part of California into (further) ruins.
We all know it will happen. The question is when? Today?, Tomorrow? 100 Years from now?
We’ve all seen the collision course our economy is on since the last crash rescue. Does the bubble get even bigger and go all Hindenburg or is there still time for another scotch?
IT IS HAPPENING NOW !
The spiritual warfare is on a steep upswing.
This year, I’ve been spending on needed repairs & stocking up on certain items.
I’m pretty well caught up to where I need to be. I’m done.
I have been “stocking up” on car parys that “regularly” need replacement, for some time.
Everything but Tires lol
Tools and supplies yes. Tires deteriorate if not stored in shelter and their shelf life is short if outside subjected to sun and weather.
I am resurrecting some old vehicles I had on hand so as to have multiple back up rugged transportation options at turn key status.
Cannot stand and wouldn’t spend the money on the “they all look alike” SUVs that everyone is buying. Experience taught me a person can overspend a LOT on the convenience of brand new vehicles. Look at the cost per mile between a kept up reliable used vehicle and brand new.
I have enough stuff and tools I know I could cobble something together for the rest of my life and even if EMP hits!
Can you say
Kill dozer 2.0
Lol
I haven’t seen high volume anything in the last 1.5 years around here in central Atlantic rural town. But then there isn’t a large group of elites shopping in the stores where I shop. And there aren’t stores that cater to elites. There are some people who still go to other towns shopping for recreation, but less than 3 years ago. There are still some people who go out to eat every dinner meal, but more are eating at home for breakfast and lunch.
I did visit family in northern Virginia where a lot of government bureaucrats live. I also visited in Norfolk, VA. I don’t think that people who live in those areas and work for the government or big companies have any connection to what is really happening in rural, small town, and working America. It’s a different world where people are still shopping, talking about shopping, and going out to eat at restaurants that cost $27 for an entree. I think they are so immersed in their own little upper crust world that they don’t realize that when Biden says, “Everything is fine” it truly is not fine for a lot of people.
Exactly. I live in central CT…lots of elites around here. They shop and spend…it appears they love buying EVs. Love it. In my town, so many have Teslas or large electric cars. It’s a look at me thing….
When I visited my dad in Youngstown…man, I was saddened. So many restaurants only opening for dinner and still closing by 11pm. So many closed shops. All small businesses.
Those people do not have any connection to anything which is happening to small town, middle America. Or I’m certain any interest in so knowing.
I very much doubt they give anyone other than themselves a single second of thought.
There is a delicious phrase in Britain…”I’m all right, Jack.”
Unless the unhinged, destructive policies emanating out of DC start affecting those you speak of, Belle, that attitude will forever be the mantra of the favoured class…which does not include those who are at the end of their ropes financially and in every other way.
What do you mean there are people struggling? There can’t be because “I’m all right, Jack.”
I am convinced the only thing “floating” the country right now is “seasoned citizens” who have pensions and investments.
If all us seniors would cut our discretionary spending it would be a rude awakening to the economists. As for me I am stocking up on food, tools, precious metals, live poultry and cattle.
Everyone is focused on everything but the fact that banks are teetering worldwide……..
Build back better is really code for BUST!
Prepare now or be busted later……bread lines and soup kitchens are not fun.
Only starving people will agree to global enslavement. They don’t plan on “digital currency”, they plan on using “social credits” for subservience to qualify people for food deliveries, clothing, etc.. Their “food” won’t be food, their medicine won’t be medicine….
P.S. There’s a great movie (late 1950’s) with Peter Sellers and Terry Thomas called “I’m Alright Jack.”
If you appreciate British humor, you’ll love it.
Most of us around here like our lifestyle.
We enjoy doing things ourselves and knowing how to fix things and make things and just take care of ourselves and help our neighbors when they need it.
Some of us have lived the eat out and hire people to do everything Life and we’re more than happy to leave it far behind.
We have a large Amish community here and it is so nice to go to their businesses and to be around a group of people who are cheerful and competent and positive.
Here where I live in Cabarrus County, NC I’ve noticed everyone basically stays home now. Also, in the grocery stores, carts are no longer full….just the basics in many carts that I have seen.
I had an interesting talk with a doctor recently.
The investment firms known as “healthcare provider networks” are beginning to pull their cash out of the real estate market, because they are forecasting a 2008-level crash. They see it looming on the horizon and are preparing accordingly.
So, yes, there will not be a recovery this year. Or next year. And possibly beyond.
keeler: …investment firms known as “healthcare provider networks”…
So true. The only operations these corporate “healthcare providers” do is wealth extractions. Squeeze the costs and jack up the fees.
Astute insight.
The biggest pot of money available is the US health care dollar. 4 Trillion per year. That money is given by govt and employers to Health insurance companies, who reward large hospital systems with profit opportunities in return for giving them all the power and data. Pharmacies, Pharm manufacturers all controlled by the above.
Physicians and nurses have no decisionmaking power anymore. The best paid physician jobs are to be good at creating the illusion of care with the least amount of cost. The satisfaction of good service, good health care, and medicolegal protection is totally up to you, on your own time, at your own cost.
You hit the nail on the head. You don’t WANT what they are passing off as “healthcare” now. Go paleo on diet, and try like heck to not get injured. The quality of providers, both doctors and nurses has drastically declined. But we all saw that with the Covidcon. I knew it, but was still shocked.
Almost everyone and their dog catcher are building Value Based Care organizations. The plan will pay the provider a sum up front to keep you healthy, not per service provided. Woe betide those that don’t make the bean counters’ metrics and cost more than they are worth.
At the doctor’s office a few months ago. We were talking about losing one of our 2 hospitals here due to covid (couldn’t stay open without “elective” procedures). She said it’s worse then we know. 3 out of 5 providers are planning to leave medicine in the next 3 years. Add that to the burnout rate due to overworked staff and we’re headed for a healthcare apocalypse. Better get your health issues fixed ASAP. That’s what we are doing.
Always (never) surprised by those who are surprised. Some things never change.
I now live in rural North Carolina on a fixed income. But, I did spend decades working in R&D, immersed in the multinational BigTech/BigBank/BigPharma “Research Triangle” region – which I still frequent. That region is now an epicenter of the Piedmont-Atlantic UN/WEF MegaRegion.
The difference in what I see between the two areas is stark.
The rural, manufacturing, agriculture, small business and skilled trades are incrementally eroded, choked off and undermined. A backfill of illegal slave labor and tax increases keep it at a slow boil. Single family home construction is priced beyond most incomes and, what little new housing is all tinder box apartments to warehouse future labor. There is some manufacturing expansion but it is all foreign owned. More and more people out here are staring in the abyss or know someone who is.
Not far away, heaps of global capital, government money, and multinational expansion have the Triangle “economy” on fire. Lavish indulgence, but nothing there “feels” like true economy-driven growth. It’s basically unlimited funding for ESG and Agenda2030 spending. Million dollar mc’mansions displace modest middle class ranches. Luxury condos and townhouses sprout around the future transit hubs. People worry about finding enough time for the gym, trying new the upscale restaurants, buying the Mercedes or Tesla, and where to go on vacation.
This is the grinding down of Mainstreet. A steady transfer of wealth and opportunity. The hollowing out of America.
I sort of agree. I am industrial consultant. My customers are doing OK. They are busy and expanding. They are all American companies.
There is a third tier that you do not include. Go a bit farther out into that rural manufacturing into the really small town industrial parks. They missed out on a big part of the boom but they are also missing out on much of the crash. Out here is small town land, you can still find reasonable housing, some quite cheap. If you don’t mid buying out of zoned and HOA areas and can be comfortable with an odd sort of neighbors from time to time, then housing does not break the bank. You know the places. The neighbor on your right has chickens, rabbits and maybe a goat and works on his own car in the yard while the one on your left has has a gated driveway and a four car garage. And, everyone has decided to get along.
The area I moved to about 5 years ago was much as you describe. Today I could no longer afford to buy out here.
We got a European pharma company expansion, a communist Asian electric car plant, and an Indian car parts operation. The counties and state funded/subsidized the major portion of the costs. Environmental safeguards and typical impact fees were waived. Now, taxes are raising rapidly as a result. Locals will provide labor but profits or reinvestment will not flow into the area.
There are indeed more dimensions and forces at work. Regional Governance Councils (espc Triangle J) have long been in control of the allocation of federal and state funds to cities and counties. Rankings for “Opportunity Zone” funds by the Regional “Council” aligned it with Agenda 2030. That benefited some rural and semi-rural areas on the MegaRegion outskirts.
Ha, sounds like Central Florida. A single wide trailer on an acre with a few broken down cars, chickens and kids running around and next door, a 30 acre horse farm with a beautiful barn and house and a gated entrance. And everyone gets along fine.
We must be lucky to live where we do in our very rural area.
I look out my windows and see beautiful green fields of alfalfa, barley and oats with snow topped mountains soaring in the background.
All of my neighbors, I guess you can call them that most of the houses are no closer than a mile to each other, are small but well cared for.
Many of them have chickens and goats and rabbits and even a milk cow but no one works on their cars in the yard, we all have nice shops ( metal or wooden buildings full of tools) for that.
Some of the houses might need a bit of paint but the farmers will get around to that when the spring field work is done, some time between the first and second cutting of their hay.
Almost every one does their own home repair, car and machinery repair, yard work, etc.
And we help each other.
There are some pretty nice modular homes out here now, but no single wides.
No one has a four car garage with a gated drive that I have seen yet.
There are a lot of places like this in rural Colorado, I can not speak for other states.
We are neighbors, good neighbors.
sDee: I see a similar situation on the Westside of Los Angeles. People with high-paying professional service, tech and entertainment industry jobs are spending like crazy. Everyone else is pinching pennies. Then, we’ve got the homeless, everywhere; a sorry underclass of mentally ill and drugged-out zombies.
You’re in a Mega Region too. I spent a lot of time on the road these last two years taking me in and out of most of them via rural routes. Pattern is consistent.
Interesting.
That is true about Colorado Springs, the place has go nuts in home prices.
My money is in metals, food, first aid, and protection.
Aren’t the Long Beach and Los Angeles ports still shut down? That’s not going to help supply.
https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/los-angeles-long-beach-ports-reopen/647226/
Port officials say terminals had reopened Friday evening despite a labor-related dispute that limited operations late last week.
The nation’s largest port gateway has returned to full operations, ending a disruption that limited the movement of goods at terminals after not enough longshore workers reported to the job late last week.
The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach saw several terminals close on Thursday evening and Friday morning due to a lack of workers.
LOL. Easing up to improve things for the ’24 “”installation” of the next WEF stooge??
Thanks. I hadn’t heard they reopened. Now all we need to worry about are the Chinese made cranes and software used in 80% of port operations.
Mari in SC: Shut down? No. But, environmental restrictions on trucks that work the ports put a crimp on capacity and increase costs for manufacturers who need to ship goods.
I’m a last-minute type of individual when it comes to paying taxes out of pocket. So, for my property tax, I just made my 2nd installment at the end of last month just prior to those pesky penalties.
Guess what? Two weeks after making that payment the county sends out a Notice Of Value for the coming tax period. A quick run of the numbers and I see an increase of 29%.
Oh, the irony as I live in a community of about 9,300 with two of the biggest employers in our community closing their doors in the coming two months – actually one is closed already, and the other in about 5 weeks.
I reckon I do not need to look beyond this little hamlet to see the economic downturn getting closer and closer with each passing day.
While most folks in the community are yet optimistic there is a reality in the conversation these days too.
Hebrews 11:1
TWENTY NINE PERCENT !!!!!
Good Holy H*LL.
Not the words I choose, but yes very infuriating.
Being ground between the millstones of inflation and taxation: we will own nothing. Marxism 101.
One could name a lot of causes, inflation, Fed trying to taper a ponzi scheme, petro dollar, dumping energy, etc. However, one of the biggest weights on the economy is the lack of trust in the government.
You mean the unelected Biden-Harris Junta, it’s CCP masters, and their enforcement agents in the corrupt DOJ/FBI and IRS?
Lol. Yeah, an actual government might not be doing this dismantling and attack on their own people. I doubt a monarch would.
Home sales in my area are doing fine. But that’s because we are in a conservative coastal region that historically is very safe. So people from LA are trying to move here to ‘get away’. They can buy a brand new million $ home with a $500 a month HOA, no yard, no sidewalk, no neighborhood.. Just a tall wall and a lot of road noise behind it. Don’t tell them it’s built on top of toxic land that was used for all sorts of things over the last 50 years.. shhhhhhh.. Some of them gravitate over to the older neighborhoods that were built in the 70s/80s. Thankfully they are so trendy they would never buy those houses.. lolz
While we have noticed increased prices at fast food places we never order from them.. I still joke about the slaves paying BoogerKing for an $8 Whopper.. The same $0.99 Whopper it was in 1998. Lots of mindless slaves that just pay whatever it is.. don’t care.. gotta eat… it’s almost sad but nature has to cull the herd somehow. You can’t save everyone..
thrawlbrauna: People from LA who think they are “getting away” by moving to Orange County are fooling themselves. There’s no escaping Sacramento’s predations.
My first teenage ‘real’ job was Burger King in late 1960s, soon after it first went national. Whoppers were 49 cents and we had to do the math for all orders on paper or in our heads. It was easy math, as each Whopper was 1 penny less than 50 cents.
It’s cheaper to eat lunch at Outback if you get one of the lunch specials, including tip, then it is to eat a big lunch at Burger King
AND Outback has coconut shrimp on the lunch menu.
My gut has made me good friends with a pawn shop owner as one of his most consistent and steady customers.
He pulls out the newest coins he has bought and has them up on the counter when he sees me walking in. Lol
“I’m now starving off the money I always dreamed of making” I once read that while waiting in a dentist office. For some of the people I know, it’s a true statement.
Yep. $30K was a dream annual income, and a $100K home was a mansion on the hill. Ended up making six figures until I retired, but the mansion on the hill was never realized.
The big economic news of two weeks ago is that Russia and China have succeeded in putting together a new oil cartel which includes Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and several other countries, probably including Mexico, Indonesia, Venezuela and Brazil. They are currently cutting production in order to drive up the price of oil.
Howard, the price of petroleum has been going down and down due to worldwide recession. Saudi Arabia wanted to cut production, but was waiting to do that since the US said it wanted to work on refilling its petroleum reserve. However, Biden did not do that. While the price continued to decline. Saudi Arabia adjusts production to keep the world market price above the point where they can make a PROFIT – around $82 per barrel. This is not a evil conspiracy, but a practical move for all the oil producers.
So, OPEC cut production as should have been expected. The US MSM made it sound like it was a big surprise, but with the price declining, it was only a matter of time. It is not a new cartel, but a group of OPEC+ countries such as Russia, Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq….some of the bigger producers.
Biden has been artificially keeping petroleum prices low in the US by selling off our Strategic Petroleum Reserves.
didn’t Trump want to refill the strategic reserves when the price was so extremely low in early and mid 2020…? If I recall correctly, Congress wouldn’t give him the money to do so.
The price was at $24 a barrel if I am remembering correctly. Congress said no. Now we look back and Trump was right about so much.
Early January 2020 lowest gas price near me was $2.20 per gallon.
Today the price per gallon is $3.89 !
PLUS all the costs for car upkeep
AND for sure it will keep rising
THIS IS UNSUSTAINABLE
Belle, thank you for your response! I appreciate everything you wrote. You are correct that the price of oil has been falling due to the world wide recession. You are also correct that the goal seems to be to keep the price of oil at $80 per barrel or higher. I don’t really *know* that Russia and China are behind the rapid price rise to $80 per barrel, but I inferred that are from the following:
1. The peace deal negotiated by China between Iran and Saudi Arabia a few weeks ago.
2. OPEC has started selling oil for currencies other than the dollar. One of the goals of Russia and China is to bring down the dollar from its current strength which is due to the use of the dollar as the currency of international settlements.
3. Russia isn’t part of OPEC (but only part of OPEC+), yet it dramatically started cutting its oil shipments by sea last week, the same week that oil prices started rising dramatically. Zero hedge had an article about the dramatic cut in Russian oil shipments last week, see:
https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/russias-weekly-crude-oil-exports-plunge
Russia is not “trying to bring down the dollar”. The US put the most severe sanctions on Russia which prevented them being able to trade in dollars. The US was hoping that Russia would default and that default would cause severe economic problems in Russia.
So, in what currency was Russia going to be able to conduct trade? They immediately had to require rubles for gas and petroleum. But over time, they had to move to using another strong currency that had worldwide trading application – the yuan was the best choice they had. There would never have been any threat to the dollar if we learned to live and work with other countries instead of trying to dominate them.
China did negotiate a peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, but that didn’t have to do with China per se, but making peace in the middle east between two countries whose conflicts threatened stability in the middle east. Since then, Saudi Arabia has invited Syria to the Arab League meeting, support that will help Syria to negotiate from more of a position of strength with Turkey and Russia over a peace deal. A Syria- Russia-Turkey peace deal would put pressure on the US to withdraw troops from northeastern Syria where we have been stealing oil and grain from Syria and sending them on to Israel.
Just what the WEF/Biden admin wants, get the price of oil up.
I heard an interview on the radio this morning with an interesting perspective. There is no doubt the train is going to crash. If you are on the train and bracing for impact is completely different planning than not being on the ride but watching the crash from the outside. The point being made was everyone will need to plan, but those on the train will need to do things quite different from those watching.
Good point, I’m watching and think if I WAS still on, it’d be past time to JUMP OFF.
Today I prepared lunch all with ingredients grown on our 2 acre homestead.
Except the salt and pepper.
I wish I could gift this to everyone who is willing. It can be done.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/UZyiiyv5Hbd3K2qw7
Bon appetit! Isn’t it the best feeling?
Fabulous looking meal. 😋
The best advice I ever got: There is almost no type of free better than debt free.
It was hard, and we live modestly, but we live mostly without financial fear.
I find it SEEMED a little hard, at first but as we went along, it got easier and easier.
Been at it 25 years, and now would no more take on debt, than I would ,..can’t think of anything.
I just would NOT do it.
the best financial advice I ever got was from my mom, who had grown up in the Depression in Western Canada. “save save save for a rainy day.”
I lucked out in 1998, got a 2 year old two bedroom apartment style condo for $53,000, I haven’t had a mortgage since about’05. Now I make decent money in summer hauling concrete and spend the winter on unemployment.
No money in the bank due to Trudeau’s predations, it all sits in my cupboard.
Perhaps I could live a bit more than I do, but I also prefer the frugality drilled into my head by mom that means no bill can come along that will mess me up.
Excellent mindset. Sadly too many people think life is showing others what they own, or have on credit cards.
Florida is full of retirees from other states who come here. A lot of them are retired teachers, first responders and other government workers that were in unions from the states they came from. They are living high on the hog with their big fat fixed pensions that have a cola every year. They are primarily from blue states with huge deficits and unfunded pension plans. Nothing against them, they were probably dedicated workers that were recipients of great pensions. The issue is deficits, unfunded liabilities that many States along with the federal government seem to ignore. There will be a consequence. Propping up the stock market with false expectations helps those pension funds stay liquid for the moment. If Wall Street propagandists and the agenda fails the balloon will bust.
Early Bird Specials….
Are they still cheap?
In my county the skool district is the largest employer. Over 90 million/yr to “educate” less than 4k kids, and all standardized testing of students is in the bottom half of the state. It almost has to be deliberate. This is outright malpractice, a jobs project, and I feel NOTHING for these gov’t employees and their pensions. If I got results like that when I performed my job, I’d have been fired.
I guess the bad news hasn’t trickled down in my area. Home Depot and Lowes are packed. Walmart and Target likewise. Restaurants have the regular 20-minute wait time. I have an uncle who owns a construction company and has done business in Miami for 50 years. He is swamped full of work and has to pass up on jobs/contracts.
What I don’t understand is I am still seeing long lines at the fast food places. I see the lines as I go home to eat my self-made sammich.
😂😂😂
Me, too, Leave, and it saves money, tastes better, and healthier!
Winner, winner, chicken dinner…
No surprise there is a weight problem in this country. The schools should be teaching home ec instead of pronouns.
Isn’t that the truth! And not lumping everyone in same category here, it takes a little effort to prepare meals at home. So, add that in the mix.
And I’m a tad germaphobe – or picky about who cooks what I eat.
Years ago, I was in the drive-thru at a burger place, got to the pick-up window, and after one glance, said, “nevermind, thank you” and drove off… 😂😂
I have had full blown food poison in my life Miss. Della. and it was never from my own home cooking.
Take a guess where I got it from, go ahead guess.
Yep, from two of America’s fast food places.
Colorado, that’s horrible! Did you get it twice?
After that, it does make one cautious!
Four of us in my family got that ten years ago. Hit us all at same time. We had brunch at a nice country club and part of it was from buffet. We never figured out which food item made us sick. I now refuse to eat at a buffet.
I worked in public health thirty four years and know a little something about germs!
We’ve never gotten sick from home cooking either.
And, food poisoning especially in older folks can be serious.
And PE 5 days a week.
Yes! For sure!
When people find out their food is laced with mRNA, do you think the lines will be longer or shorter?
I say longer. I actually know people stupid enough to think gee, I just hate shots! Let’s go get a burger instead!
For Lent I gave up food not made at home.
Good decision.
It seems many are in denial.
Talked to the well driller today because I had to get a new well dug and I’ve had to wait. I live in Tennessee. He said they are busier than they’ve ever been in 30 years. People are still moving here out of places like Illinois and California. The only way they can do that, I think, is they can sell high and purchase for all or mostly cash. Real Estate here peaked around July/August/September in 2021, then started going down. It seems there is an uptick now. I think fear of being in a blue state and near large cities is driving more and more people out. As it should.
And now you know why the great state of Tennessee is under attack by the Marxists, although they haven’t made much of a dent. There’s a church on every corner and the gun rangea don’t kick into high gear until after church services and Sunday supper.
Even with all the bad news, people can see the handwriting on the wall: loss of freedom, insane Democrat policies of wokeness, skyrocketing crime, rotten District Attorneys, and the need to be in a safer location. For many, that location needs to lend itself to growing food, even if it’s just a garden.
I used to call it the Great Migration. And now I’m calling it the Great Sorting.
Just sayin’.
How does that apply to the economy? Well, the more people move in, the more jobs created. Low taxes, excellent climate for growing food, friendly folk, and lots of agriculture. Although, TN brags of its role in healthcare, folks have mostly rejected the changes and are pretty disgusted with healthcare in general, so your mileage may vary. I have found healthcare in Tennessee to be substandard, to the point that you might have to go to Florida for specialty services.
And all that to say… LOL
Business is booming here in the trades.
It makes sense to the sensible that raising your own food does a lot of good for the body and soul. Plus you cut out all the bid food corps’ profits. It’s so simple, even I get it 😆.
Big, not bid
How long was the well wait in TN? You’re not the first I’ve seen mention it and I’m curious how I compare in SC (6mon in to an 18mon wait).
I trusted my instincts and just decided, Pa and I are too young to retire fulltime by the sea. I’m going to be renting it for the summer months, until we are ready.
I have now parked our money into real estate and called it a day. No more bean counting. No more getting freaked out about the banks, about the devaluing dollar, about confiscation or evaporation, worrying about the economy.
Life goes on. GOD, needs to be prayed to and family needs to be loved. Home is where your heart is.
A further sign of the bad economy came last week. DD #2 Kettle and Husband work as Managers for a large independent, grocery store on the East Coast. Easter week daily numbers, were so low, they were cutting hours, even for Managers. Never have I seen, such a glaring prediction of the state of Biden’s economy.
Passover, Easter and Orthodox Easter holidays combined this year. If MB is cutting hours during a holiday week, it’s VERY BAD. Other grocery stores now operate as giant convenience stores because of inflation but not Market Basket.
But back to reality and the simple things of life. People need us, family needs us and Jesus needs us, not to be preoccupied but to be present for a life of love and grace.
The life of a courageous warrior for Divine Justice and Truth, is living a life that satisfies the soul first.
Sundance has been getting at this for months, because it’s so true. No more foundations of sand. This is the ages long war of good versus evil.
So did He or didn’t He? As for me and my house, we believe He did indeed, rise.
thank you, ma.
Amen, Ma
Even the thrift stores are empty of buyers. Today was senior discount day – 30% off. Am usually at the store before the doors open, but arrived late this morning. I had my choice of 10 or 12 parking spots, highly unusual. Inside the store, the shelves were pretty much empty of merchandise. Why? Because people are now using up what they’ve got, or are making do, rather than donating.
Same story in two other local thrift stores. I actually asked the respective managers about the absence of buyers. Each replied, “People just don’t have the money to spend. And then there’s the cost of gas to even get here.”
If you like the nostalgia of tupperware, then snap some up. They are about to go under.
“Trust your instincts.”
In and of itself, so very important.
Though, I would add to it this thought: Compare what you are being told by the experts to what is actually going on around you. From that amalgamation, draw on your instincts for a course of action or a conclusion.
The hottie wanted a shake, so I just today took her through the DQ drive thru, had a coupon, 2 Small shakes or malts for 4 bucks, 2 buck each plus tax.
So the Drive thru tells me to pull forward and before I hand over the coupon she says $10.79 .
I asked her as I got the discount to 4 bucks plus tax total, if that was the pre coupon correct price…
Yes, and she went on about not opening some DQ’s till after 3pm and some other desperate economics.
Gut says, it’s getting outrageous.
Perception is, and becomes, reality. If too many people see the theater is on fire, they’ll all run for the exits. Best not to spook them.
This is why there are so many mixed economic messages – the wolves keep circling the herd so it has no idea which direction is safe, nor the extent of the danger.
Slow burn.
I am in central VA.
I went to a restaurant yesterday for supper and it was full. Our local fast food restaurants still have long drive thru lines. I can’t tell with retailers. The box store parking lots seem full as are the warehouse stores’ lots.
I have no idea how the mall stores are doing other than what I hear nationally. Gas is up the last couple of weeks and food goes up every week for the last 2 years as far as I can tell.
As for real estate, there are far fewer houses for sale but prices haven’t dropped and they are still selling fast.
I am in central Virginia also and working class. The situation is bad for low income people. Rents on apts and single family housing has doubled and tripled since 2021 and if you want to move or buy forget it!
60% of Va.residents saw rent increases this past year. I have a neighbor whose rent went from from $1050 to $1395.00.
Renters are spending 30% of their income on housing costs.
One out of 5 houses in central Virginia are sold to out of state investors so the inventory for first time home buyers is so low nothing to buy. Even for those with excellent credit and a good job history. Eviction rates are high with 87% of eviction notices filed by out of state LLC’s. Many simply cannot afford the higher rents.
Couple all this with liberal people moving here from NY, NJ and Northern Virginia and who is getting hit the hardest? Working class, lower middle class and lower income legal Americans who live 1 hr to 2 hrs south of DC.
Then, there are many more panhandlers with signs standing on median strips near intersections asking for money,never used to see this many just 3 years ago. Now every other intersection has people there.
So, middle class established home owners or comfortable residents with a good salary may not be feeling the full impact yet but it is being felt down here in the paycheck to paycheck demographic with no disposable income to save.
This is Biden’s economy. Who needs all that cheap gas, affordable rents, no inflation and job opportunities of the Trump economy?
As a practical matter, the continued growth of online shopping and the use of delivery for so many more things including groceries and restaurant food makes these suggestions a little trickier to assess. Are the sales truly declining or are they just being executed differently?
“Look at restaurants and bars. Do you see continued high-volume business or not.”
”Look at the malls and shopping centers. Do you see foot traffic, or not.
Look at the grocery stores. Do you see continued optimism, or not.”
The malls and shopping centers were already in decline before the pandemic and that has continued creating shopping ghost towns. But not seeing foot traffic in the stores that remain may be in some cases due to an increase in finger (typing) traffic. That’s not as easy for the average person to verify beyond an increase in FedEx,UPS, Amazon or Instacart delivery trucks zipping around their neighborhood. At least it’s not drone delivery…yet.
Shipping is down and has been for over 12 months.
Gun sales remain strong as of last month and ammo is still in short supply as primers are not in abundance! When We The People are nervous/uncertain about our future guns and ammo sales skyrocket! What my gut instinct is telling me is that very few are pleased with what ChiCom Joe is doing to the country no matter the gaslighting from state run media!!!
If / when we go full Weimar – which ChiCom Joe was installed to help make happen, along with many other acts of subversion against the USA – I worry about EBT nation and the feral youth of single-parent welfare nation ganging up to perform home invasions en masse.
I suspect I’m not alone in that, and that this also accounts for record gun and ammo sales in recent years.
I called a landscaping company I’ve used in the past for an estimate. For their lead times, they said the earliest they could come out to see the property and give me a quote would be mid-May and the earliest the work could be performed would be July. I feel like that was pretty standard given that I didn’t call them until April, but I’m bracing myself for sticker shock when I get the quote.
My neighbor got a $15,000 quote for doing 4ft chain link fence spanning 150ft. She didn’t accept
On Ohio St.Rt. 53 in the northern part of the state, a sign sits by a modest house in farmland territory.
The sign is handmade.
It succinctly states in large letters on both sides for northbound and southbound traffic:
“The Most Dangerous Man in America Is BIDEN!”
Quick examples of Inflation which I have noted:
A plastic carton of cocoa was $2.99 a month ago- now $3.99 to $4.29 – 33.3% + Inflation
A large JIF peanut butter jar – at a discount store! – was $6.00 two months ago – now $7.00 + – 16.6 % inflation.
One pound of lunchmeat ham – $5.00 a month ago – now $6.00 + – 20% inflation
6-ounce yogurt 4-pack was $2.49 – $2.99 a year ago – now $5.00 + – 100% + inflation
Let’s Go Brandon, indeed, preferably go to prison, if he is competent enough to stand trial!
Otherwise, go into The Home for Senile Devils.
Like our elections now and our faith in the medical industry; how can you believe a word about those and especially the economy? Too many “big-shots” have fooled with and jiggered the numbers that we rely on! Nothing is “natural” anymore. The economy has in the past, recovered; this time it WILL NOT! THAT is what people has to realize and prepare for. Most people can’t even conceive what happens with another Democrat administration; we have never been that far down!
Back in December, ISM panelists anticipated an uptick in demand by the beginning of Q2.
It’s not a recovery now, it will not be a recovery this year.
As with everything Covid, they’ll say Sundance “just got lucky” in his prediction (and they’ll repeat it when all the numbers are tallied for fiscal ’23. Admittance of truth or fact is not allowed, ever.
Common sense and a gut instinct goes a long way if you listen and find it.
I think the Federal Reserve is going to have to change course before long. It went too far too fast in tightening. Commercial real estate in particular is not looking great. A lot of loans have to be refinanced later this year and next year, and loan rates are a whole lot higher than they were when the properties were originally financed. It could be ugly.
I think the federal reserve needs to die a painful death
It’s not federal and there’s no reserve.
I’m confused!
On one hand Biden and the Neocons are pushing the Ukrainian Conflict according to most sources to enhance and solidify American hegemony across the world. That means American Greatness but, on the other hand, Biden and the Democrats are doing everything they can to destroy America. They destroyed our natural gas and oil production. They destroyed our gas pipelines. They caused inflation to destroy our purchasing power. They caused soaring interest rates to destroy our economy and their wokeness destroyed our military.
So, why would anyone start a horrific war with a nuclear power to ensure American Greatness across the world while at the same time doing their best to destroy America at home?
Hint: its notcabout American greatness
Because it’s in the interests of the CCP, which owns Biden and several others in D.C. on both sides of the aisle and, I believe, in the “intelligence community” and military leadership.
It’s about getting white Christians to kill white Christians for globohomo.
1 – It is about $$$$$$ laundering – Take our money and give it to themselves (dictator/commies)
2 – Increase taxes for everything – $$$$$ from working Americans
3 – Interest Rates continuing to rise
4 – Banks becoming insolvent and unable/or willing to offer business or personal loans
I dont notice the restaurants and bars because I dont frequent them but a couple of times a month. Buying groceries is a different matter, and yes, I do hear people complaining about increased prices. We started stocking up years ago, so we mostly shop sales. Adding a freezer to the equation has helped us stock up on frozen and meat products.
I live in a state that is still a ‘move to’ state, but much less than the biggies like FL and TX. Homes are still selling, but not at the rate they once were. We are also debt free, retired, and on a budget, which means all of the $$$ that we bring in could be considered disposable income after the taxes and bills are paid. This has also helped us weather the economic storm that is upon us.
It’s my credo, when I have money I buy what I need, when I don’t have money I don’t NEED anything.
We are in an economic world war.
Our leader is not respected in most of the world and in most of the USA.
The fed is focusing on eliminating jobs, lowering wages and climate change.
The DOJ is focused on political opposition.
We have an entire generation worried about pronouns.
Half the country is trying to abolish our cheapest forms of energy.
China and Russia are laughing. Hard to see how this end well.
Cernovich gulping down a handful of red pills.
That is just sick, both having that much money to blow, and that it is going to Harvard. Most of the time I do not begrudge wealthy people that have worked hard and earned it, especially the ones that do things like share their beach house w/me, but some of these people I just despise.
I live in FL, and feel blessed that DeSantis was Governor here. But I’m still behind Trump.
ALL OF THE WRONG PEOPLE are lining up behind DeSantis for POTUS: the Bushes, the Murdochs, Karl Rove, Paul Ryan.
They can vet candidates far beyond our capabilities or resources, and they would be backing him if certain assurances weren’t made to comfort those who support the Globalist-CCP Axis.
Home Depot Monday morning was slow. More employees than customers!
Has anyone else noticed that transactions (credit card, eftpos – all electronic ones) seem to have some kind of delay before they are actioned by the banks or appear on statements? EG most recent – take cash out on Thursday, didn’t go out till Tuesday – it was Easter, but these are all electronic, no holy days for the computer is there? I’m sure this didn’t happen before. I can’t think of a reason for it.
Maybe just in Australia?
I have seen that “delay” quite a bit and for at least the last year and increasingly a delay.
Not sure why but no doubt our credits/debits are “Very Peculiar”.
In addition to the financial catastrophe of a mean-spirited, planned and purposely destructive economic inflation, what frightens me even more is this. . .
“It’s not a recovery now, it will not be a recovery this year.”
. . .and wondering what the genocidal-loving PTB will do to divert everyone’s attention from their worsening economic plight and the diminishing prosperity and prospects for themselves and their families for a secure future (especially with an upcoming election).
FJB HARD!!
When government fears the people, there is liberty.
I think if Bud Lite falls…that will be the start, but it will be a slow start…
Back during the cold war, the Russian people feared to even open their mouths and say something…Americans are not so afflicted. Its not in our DNA.
So true Aggiegirl.
This is one of my favorite quotes from a Founding Father. . .
“I prefer peace, but if trouble must come, let it be in my time that my children may know peace.”
– Thomas Payne
Wolverines!!
Wolverines!!
Well over 75% of the population has had their DNA modified. They are well on the way if not already there of
becoming AI controlled zombies with the nano-chips/ naontubes wiring inside them for external control when
the full 5G kicks in.
As I have mentioned before…this is all about Red States/Blue States. I am in a Red State and develop Real Estate.
If you are in a Blue State…your goose is cooked…kiss your ass goodbye.
In A Red State enjoy the ride albeit increased traffic as many are moving to these States from Blue. Low Taxes, expanding employment more conservative values and nicer weather. Companies are moving to these states to benefit their employees. Restaurants crowded…in reality nothing has changed from pre C-vid.
Everyone needs a place to live so look for Single Family Homes or Apartments in suburbs of major Southern Cities. Builders are buying down loan rates for prospective buyers who want a specific mortgage payment and adding it to the back end. Retail was being decimated by Amazon before C-vid and is coming back slowly but there is only so much rent a donut shop or cleaners can pay. However it is coming back stronger in areas where per capita income of residents is strong.
Office on the other hand is the albatross…it always was a luxury but with c-vid people can work from home and not need a office to operate. So companies with 50k sq. feet only need now 15k sq. ft and as such landlords will make less and will not be enough to carry the properties with higher interest rates. So look out below…
Red States are winners…any further economic analysis needs to specify by areas and not in general.
LOL. And just how long do expect those Red state Winners to stay Red with all the Blue State immigration? I can’t believe the crap I’m reading coming out of Texas, so I wouldn’t get too high on that horse. A lot of Blue States aren’t Blue, they are run by corrupt Blue cities that count ballots, not votes.
I agree !