Economic Overviews

In the financial world at this very moment, we have 8 different "weather systems" that are all developing in real time. If several of the more powerful components were to converge – and reinforce each other – then we could very rapidly reach the point of greatest financial instability that the world has seen since 2008.

The Federal Reserve lifts interest rates to slow economic growth and quell inflationary pressures. Currently, though, there's little evidence of inflationary pressures outside of financial asset prices, and economic growth is weak to say the least, so should we fear a Fed rate hike at this point? This article has the answer. Invest accordingly.

There are many out there (including myself) that believe that the next major economic downturn is dead ahead. As you will see in this article, a whole bunch of things are happening right now that we would expect to see if a recession was beginning.

The level of complacency in world financial markets is downright astounding - even stupid - and only an eventual thundering crash of the system will bring the madness to an end.

There is certainly something to be said for being positive and thinking that anything is possible and, as Americans, optimism seems to come naturally for us. When we deny reality and engage in irrational wishful thinking, we are engaging in something called “hopium” - the irrational belief that, despite all evidence to the contrary, things will turn out for the best.

Dozens of “analysts are convinced that the U.S. economy is going to hell in a hand basket – and soon. How sound are their analyses of the current economic situation? Will they be proven to be very insightful or nothing less than fear mongers looking for attention? Their views are all here. You be the judge.

Most of the hundreds of financial articles posted every week are just "financial entertainment" - unfounded forecasts, fear mongering or cheerleading. That being said, there are a number of articles that are absolutely MUST READS if you want to become an informed investor and be in position to understand what is evolving in the financial environment and be in a position act accordingly. Here they are.

The infographic below shows the difference in living costs around the world using CPI data as a relative indicator of a country's living costs compared to New York (for example, if a country has a CPI of 70, on average, it enjoys 30% cheaper living costs compared to New York).

This infographic shows the difference in Monthly Personal Disposable Income around the world using data from 2014. In this context personal disposable income refers to the income per person after all taxes have been paid.

If you believe that ignorance is bliss, you might not want to read this article. [Why? Because] I am going to dispel the notion that there has been any sort of “economic recovery”, and I am going to show that we are much worse off than we were just prior to the last economic crisis. [Ready to become informed? Then, read on!]