Peter's Blog

Inflation Is a Policy That Cannot Last

Are we heading toward a Fed policy that fixes inflation at a permanent rate of five to six percent? We could be. But inflation is a policy that cannot last.

Chinese Gold Imports at Highest Level Since 2019

In October, Chinese gold imports reached the highest level since December of 2019 as the market continues to recover after taking a hard hit during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the latest data from Chinese customs, the country imported 123 tons of gold in October. That was a 38-ton month-on-month increase. China ranks as the […]

Worst Taper Ever: Fed Adds $92.1 Billion to Balance Sheet in One Week

Taper? What taper? Last week, the Fed announced that it plans to speed up the pace of its asset purchase taper. But so far, this taper hasn’t been very impressive. Between Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, the Fed added another 92.1 billion to its balance sheet, expanding it to a record $8.757 trillion.

Retail Sales Disappoint Despite Surging Prices

In October, retail sales surged much higher than expected, rising 1.7%. The mainstream gushed over retail spending, asserting that it was a sign that the economy is booming. At the time, I argued that it wasn’t necessarily good news. Well, the news just got even worse. Retail sales in November disappointed, despite another big surge […]

Russians on a Gold-Buying Spree

Russians have gone on a gold-buying spree. According to Russian media reports, investors in the country have bought a record amount of gold since 2014 despite prohibitively high taxes.

Federal Spending Pandemic Continues Unabated

Even with the federal government ostensibly trying to limit spending with its head against the debt ceiling, it managed to run another massive deficit in November. The budget shortfall last month was $191.34 billion, according to the latest Treasury Department statement. That was 31.7% higher than the November 2021 deficit.

I See Red! Consumer Debt Jumped Again in October

American consumers piled on more debt in October as inflation continues to squeeze their pocketbooks. Consumer debt grew by $16.9 billion, an annual increase of 4.6% (seasonally adjusted), according to the latest data released by the Federal Reserve. That raised total consumer debt to over $4.38 trillion.

ETFs Globally Add Gold for the First Time Since Summer

Global ETF gold holdings increased in November for the first time since this summer. Gold-backed ETFs saw net inflows of 13.6 tons last month. Total holdings rebounded from year-to-date lows to 3,578 tons. According to the World Gold Council, investment demand for larger gold ETFs returned with decades-high inflation and heightened market volatility.

Ireland Adds Gold to Reserves as Inflation Worries Increase

Over the last several years, we’ve seen strong central bank gold-buying. The surge in gold purchases has primarily been driven by a handful of consistent players. But over the last several months, we’ve seen several new countries enter the market. The most recent is Ireland.

That Was One Weird Jobs Report

That was one weird jobs report. The labor department released the November employment data on Friday. The numbers simply don’t make any sense. As one chief investment officer put it, “One of the weirdest reports I have ever seen.” One thing seems pretty certain. The labor market has not recovered, no matter how the powers […]