Any thoughts to the next decline? I think we are in a decline, but the low oil price and somewhat normal housing values are preventing the steep drop.
Consumer spending is down, but yet credit card balances are rising as fast as they were in 2008.
Lots of people flipping houses, inflating the values a little faster than normal.
Dollar is weakening. Feds can’t raise rates as it sends the economy in a shockwave.
Unemployment is at the lowest in 8 years.
Is the stock market retreat going to send us into trouble?
Will OPEC do something crazy and double the cost of oil sending inflation through the moon and putting a halt to all consumer spending?
None of these are my thoughts of what may or may not trigger the next one. Just some ramblings going on in my head. Curious to hear everyone’s outlook of the current economy.
Health Care has me in a decline… Just went up again… $820 for wife and last daughter in college. That’s five hikes in 2 years through Blue cross. AND they even tell me they are not going to drop me because of obuma care. I could go to a cheaper policy, but then I’d have to pick what doctors THEY say I can use. Nope I’ll stay grandfathered in as long as I can. Oh yea, I’m not eligible for obuma care. Don’t they bring up the lower class and stagnate the middle in Socialism?
On the lighter side, sure enjoying gas prices. old tractor is getting high test!
“If Bruce Jenner can keep his wiener and be called a woman, I can keep my firearms and be considered disarmed.”
Yeah, I have been paying that much for healthcare for the wife and 2 kids with a high deductible HSA plan. Would be about $1200 month if I had a regular policy.
low oil prices is impeding all sorts of debt…credit markets have been locking up for some time now. We have never recovered from 2007-08 and, unless the central banks across the planet start pumping liquidity back in the system, credit will continue to lock up and business all over will suffer.
But the Washington weasels say the economy is better than ever. All I know is this. Our (personal) income has been stagnant for the last 4-5 years. Everything (with the exception of gas) costs more. I am bringing home less than I used to. THAT doesn’t sound like a good economy, at least at my house.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
A good friend of mine (84) said to me at his wife’s 80th birthday party: “George, I can’t hardly get over the fact that I’m taking an 80 year old to bed.”
In an effort to return to the subject thread it’s apparent that the chickens are coming home to roost. The 10 yr. Treas. is at 1.6%, gold’s up over $40.00 since yesterday, and Janet Yellin’s testimony looked like she was squirming on top of a pile in her underpants. Japan’s interest rate’s have gone negative, with some of Europe’s stalwarts on the verge. Goldman Sachs just puked all over the NYSE, and the big banks are looking for their next scapegoat. Let’s see…you artificially prop up the market with bogus interest rates, all the banks cash in with free money and drive the equity valuations into outer space, main street starts buying houses and cars like drunk sailors on shore leave, credit card debit soars into the stratosphere, and all the job creation and unemployment reports are politically manufactured to keep the wool pulled down. I saw this movie 10 years ago, and I still remember how it ends. By the way…did any of you see Timmy Gietner’s sweet deal at Warburg Pincus? Funny how that happens.
I could go to a cheaper policy, but then I’d have to pick what doctors THEY say I can use. Nope I’ll stay grandfathered in as long as I can. Oh yea, I’m not eligible for obuma care. Don’t they bring up the lower class and stagnate the middle in Socialism?