Peter's Blog

Jerome Powell’s Open-Mouth Operations

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell testified before the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday (June 21). The Fed chief engaged in some more open-mouth operations, trying to guide monetary policy with words instead of actions. To understand a few things he said, you have to read between the lines. Oh, and he also got at […]

The National Debt Is a Ticking Time Bomb

Last week, the national debt pushed above $32 trillion. This is a ticking time bomb that will eventually explode.

National Debt Quietly Blows Past $32 Trillion

The great anti-federalist Brutus wrote, “I can scarcely contemplate a greater calamity that could befall this country, than to be loaded with a debt exceeding their ability ever to discharge.” And here we are. With little fanfare, the national debt blew past $32 trillion last week.

Have We Seen the Last Fed Rate Hike of This Cycle?

As was widely expected, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) put rate hikes on pause at the June meeting, although it indicated we should expect additional hikes before the end of the year. The question is how long will the pause last and will the next Fed move actually be a rate cut?

At Its Core Price Inflation Still Running Hot

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by the smallest annual amount in more than two years in May. This means the inflation fight is over and inflation lost, right? Not so fast.

National Debt Surges By Over $350 Billion in One Day After Debt Ceiling Deal

I warned you. I said when the fake debt ceiling fight ended, the real problems would begin. Well, the debt ceiling fight is over, and here we are. On the first working day after the so-called Fiscal Responsibility Act went into effect, the national debt surged by $359 billion.

Fake Debt Ceiling Fight Yields Fake Spending Cuts and a Credit Card With No Limits

We have a debt ceiling deal. And the deal is there is functionally no debt ceiling until January 2025.

The Fed Blew Up Another Real Estate Bubble and It’s Losing Air

In March, I warned that the commercial and investment real estate markets could be the next thing to break in this bubble economy. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal put a face on my warning.

Corporate Bankruptcies at Levels Last Seen During the Pandemic

Despite all of the mainstream talk about a strong, resilient economy, corporate bankruptcies through the first four months of 2023 came in at the highest level since 2010. Meanwhile, monthly bankruptcy filings have hit numbers last seen during the peak of the pandemic. According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, there were 235 corporate […]

The Real Problem Begins After Congress Raises the Debt Ceiling

The debt ceiling fight is getting down to the wire. In a letter to Congress on Monday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that without a debt ceiling increase, it was highly likely the government wouldn’t be able to meet all of its obligations by “early June, and potentially as early as June 1.” Despite the […]