Peter's Blog

Is the Auto Loan Bubble Nearing Its Popping Point?

How much more can the auto loan bubble blow up before it pops? Total auto loans and leases outstanding for new and used vehicles increased by another 4.3% year-on-year in the third quarter, according to the latest data from the Federal Reserve. This was a factor in pushing total American consumer debt to a new […]

Who Produces the World’s Gold?

Which countries produce most of the world’s gold? Gold mine output has flatlined over the last several years and that trend appears to be continuing in 2019. Gold production rose fractionally in 2018 by about 1% totaling 3,346.9 tons. That compared with 3,318.92 tons mined in 2017  — a modest 28-ton increase year-on-year. According to […]

Market Review: Improving Investor Sentiment Will Drive Silver Prices Higher

Improving investor sentiment will drive silver prices higher. This was the conclusion drawn from the Metals Focus/Silver Institute Interim Silver Market Review. Metals Focus director Philip Newman presented the data during the Annual Silver Industry Dinner hosted by the Silver Institute. His presentation featured historical supply and demand statistics and provisional estimates for 2019.

This Is Silver on Sale!

When the Federal Reserve started cutting interest rates last summer, the price of silver surged. The white metal rose 35% and peaked at close to $20 an ounce. Silver has given back some of those gains in recent weeks, primarily due to optimism about a possible trade deal with China. But fundamentally, nothing in the […]

Is China Becoming the Newest Front in the War on Cash?

Back in 2017, the IMF published a creepy paper offering governments suggestions on how to move toward a cashless society even in the face of strong public opposition. It hasn’t been in the news a whole lot lately, but the war on cash undoubtedly continues. In fact, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) may be planning […]

Serbia Joins Central Bank Gold-Buying Spree

Seeking financial and economic safety and stability, Serbia has joined the global central bank gold-buying spree. National Bank of Serbia Governor Jorgovanka Tabakovic recently announced that the bank purchased nine tons of gold in October, raising the country’s reserves to just over 30 tons.

Inflation’s Up; So What?

Here’s a strange headline for you: “Gold prices near daily highs despite better-than-expected inflation in October.” This headline is bizarre on a couple of levels. First, since when are rising consumer prices and good news? And second, why wouldn’t inflation be good for gold? You really have to buy into the mainstream narratives to write […]

Powell Lectures Congress About Government Spending the Fed Facilitates

Fiscal 2020 started just like fiscal 2019 ended – with a massive federal budget deficit. And that has Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell worried. In an ironic bit of political theater, Powell lectured Congress about the spending he helps facilitate. The budget shortfall last month was 34% higher than the October 2018 deficit, coming in […]

Student Loan Bubble Blows Up Another $32.9 Billion in Q3

American consumer debt pushed to a new record of $4.15 trillion in September. Part of that equation – the continued surge in the levels of student loan debt. Student loan balances jumped by $32.9 billion in the third quarter this year, pushing total outstanding student loan debt to a new record of $1.64 trillion. Student […]

Gold Mine Output Has Flatlined

Gold mine output has flatlined over the last several years and that trend appears to be continuing in 2019. In fact, some analysts believe we may be at or near “peak gold.” According to the World Gold Council’s Gold Demand Trends Q3 report, gold mine output fell slightly with total mine production coming in at […]