Peter's Blog

Fed Bank Bailout Program Borrowing Surged in November

The financial crisis that kicked off in March continues to bubble under the surface. Total outstanding loans in the Federal Reserve’s bank bailout program jumped by just over $5 billion in November.

Americans Increasingly Tapping Into Their Retirement Accounts to Make Ends Meet

“Resilient” American consumers are digging into their retirement funds to pay their bills. Mainstream financial pundits, politicians, and Fed officials keep telling us the economy is strong because Americans keep spending money. They just assume this is a sign of economic strength without ever asking exactly how they’re paying for all of this “robust” spending.

Industrial Demand for Platinum Driving Significant Supply Shortfall

The world faces a significant platinum supply shortfall due to record industrial demand. According to a report by the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC), the platinum market faces a 1.07-million-ounce deficit in 2023. The supply shortfall is expected to extend into 2024. With two years of significant market deficits, we will likely see upper pressure […]

The CPI Scam — Health Insurance Version

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) drives markets and motivates policy, but it is nothing but speculation, estimation and wild guesses. A recent “tweak” to the health insurance CPI reveals the formula is basically a scam.

Industrial Demand for Silver on Pace to Set Record in 2023

Industrial demand for silver is expected to set a record in 2023. According to a forecast by Metal’s Focus in conjunction with the Silver Institute, industrial silver demand is on pace to rise by 8% to a record 632 million ounces.  Investment in photovoltaics, power grid, and 5G networks, along with growth in consumer electronics […]

Major Hedge Fund Turns to Gold

Greenlight Capital reported a major increase in its exposure to gold as the hedge fund’s founder worries about the direction of the markets. In a Q3 letter to investors, David Einhorn expressed concern about geopolitical uncertainty, the rising price of oil, and inflation.

October CPI Cools; Does This Really Mean the Fed Won the War?

For the first time in several months, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in cooler than expected in October, supercharging expectations that the Federal Reserve can relent on its inflation fight. But is the optimism premature?

US Government Kicks Off Fiscal 2024 With Another Big Budget Deficit

After running the third-largest budget deficit in US history in fiscal 2023, the Biden administration kicked off fiscal 2024 with another big budget shortfall.

Moody’s Lowers US Credit Outlook to “Negative”

Mainstream media pundits and politicians generally act unconcerned about the skyrocketing national debt and ever-growing budget deficits, but somebody has taken notice. On Friday, Moody’s Investor Service lowered its outlook on US government credit from “stable” to “negative.” This could be a prelude to a downgrade in the country’s AAA credit rating. The agency typically […]

Silver Demand in Three Key Sectors Expected to Nearly Double in the Next Decade

Silver demand for industrial applications, jewelry production and silverware fabrication is expected to nearly double over the next 10 years. According to a report by Oxford Economics commissioned by the Silver Institute, the demand in these three sectors is forecast to increase by 42% between 2023 and 2033.