Base

Canada's housing prices continue to escalate [there has been no housing collapse as there has been in the U.S., Spain, U.K., Australia and elsewhere over the past 4-6 years] but concern is rising as to whether they are now, finally, 'in a bubble' and about to correct either modestly or severely. This article discusses what would cause a change in direction in Canadian housing prices. Words: 500

The July 2011 Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) released yesterday puts the June year-over-year inflation rate at 1.66%, which is less than half the 3.82% average since the end of the Second World War. That being said the ShadowStats Alternate annualized rate of inflation is 9.26%. [Which is more accurate?] Words: 384

The July 2011 Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) released yesterday puts the June year-over-year inflation rate at 1.66%, which is less than half the 3.82% average since the end of the Second World War. That being said the ShadowStats Alternate annualized rate of inflation is 9.26%. [Which is more accurate?] Words: 384

Worldwide economic uncertainty has created a growing interest in precious metals as a way to...protect one's wealth from impending economic Armageddon...Unfortunately, many today don’t know how to purchase or store bullion, and consequently may find themselves as vulnerable to financial collapse as those who didn’t purchase any bullion at all. [This article outlines what rigorous due diligence is absolutely required when entering into an agreement to buy gold bullion and how it should be stored and why. Don't buy any gold product without reading this article first.]

Worldwide economic uncertainty has created a growing interest in precious metals as a way to...protect one's wealth from impending economic Armageddon...Unfortunately, many today don’t know how to purchase or store bullion, and consequently may find themselves as vulnerable to financial collapse as those who didn’t purchase any bullion at all. [This article outlines what rigorous due diligence is absolutely required when entering into an agreement to buy gold bullion and how it should be stored and why. Don't buy any gold product without reading this article first.]

Retirement planning is more intimidating for most than any other personal finance topic. We know we should be saving but not how much. We know it's important to use a tax-deferred account but not which one. Most devastatingly, we often leave saving itself completely up to chance trusting that we will have enough willpower to set money aside for 30-50 years. Luckily, finding a secure and enjoyable retirement need not be mysterious. Here's exactly what to do.

Deutsche Bank's Joe LaVorgna tracks payroll tax receipts as a measure of real-time labor market health [see an earlier article on that chart and a host of others here] and the latest data for the current quarter show receipts growing 6% year-over-year. [It brings into question all those purveyors of doom who claim that a recesssion is just around the corner.]

For the last 10 months or so we have watched the precious metals mining sector try in vain to put in a decent rally only to run out of steam and disappoint some of its most ardent supporters - including us. Stock prices have tumbled and now present us with cheaper entry levels. Are they worth buying now? We don't think so. Here's why we still hold that view. Words: 415

For the last 10 months or so we have watched the precious metals mining sector try in vain to put in a decent rally only to run out of steam and disappoint some of its most ardent supporters - including us. Stock prices have tumbled and now present us with cheaper entry levels. Are they worth buying now? We don't think so. Here's why we still hold that view. Words: 415

When the public, and in particular the savings public at large, comes to understand that quantitative easing is actually counterfeiting...you will begin to see confidence cave and the collapse in confidence will be epic. That’s what has me nervous. [Here is how to detect when confidence is about to cave and how to protect oneself in such an eventuality.]