Argentina is facing some huge hurdles economically while the average citizen is getting poorer due to 30% inflation rates! They have 60% interest rates and just a few weeks ago when I was in Argentina interest rates were 45%. Things are spiraling out of control fast and I will keep you updated with this story the media isn’t talking about.

The crisis in Venezuela has only gotten worse and the IMF sees 1 million percent inflation by the end of the year. The inflation rate currently, is around 40,000%. The only good news we have heard is the President of Venezuela, Maduro, admitting that their models aren’t working. No kidding! Will people in the U.S. and around the world learn this lesson from Venezuela that Socialism doesn’t work!

Venezuela is experiencing 25,000% inflation this year and people have now turned to barter. This only makes sense. Why use a medium of exchange that can’t serve as well… a medium of exchange! This is why it is crucial for you to own physical precious medals like gold and silver!  Be ahead of the masses and by the cheapest insurance you can buy!

The Federal Reserve has raised rates for the 7th time in a decade. The latest FOMC statement and the Fed’s move here tells us a lot.  The Fed really does believe the economy is strong and that it is fundamentally and structurally strong. The Fed thinks the band aids put on our economy in 2008 actually fixed things.  This sort of arrogance is very destructive and will lead to the next collapse. Stay tuned.

Recently, a 5th New York City taxi driver has committed suicide. Many of these taxi drivers own the once coveted $1 million taxi medallion the problem is that currently those taxi medallions are worth $175,000!  These taxi drivers are deep in debt and feel they have no way out!  Uber and Lyft definitely have increased competition for people needing rides but the real reason these taxi drivers are hurting is because of government! It’s government that created the taxi monopoly in the first place and gave value to these silly medallions to limit competition! How is the government ever for the little guy when the rules and regulations imposed by government make services to the consumer more expensive?

The sign of massive bubbles blowing up in the economy is evident with the cruise ship industry. This Royal Caribbean has came out with its new ship, “Symphony of the Seas.” It’s the largest cruise ship the world! This sort of event is consistent with the Austrian view of the Business Cycle. Listen to this episode as I explain why an economy booms and why it busts. Recessions are also the necessary correction phase to actually have a firm foundation on the economy. I explain all this here and more so don’t miss it!

The yield curve is continuing to flatten with 2 year treasury bills at the highest they’ve been since 2008! The yield curve inverting is a very strong predictor of a recession. So how much longer will this tightening cycle by the FED go on until this bubble pops and the inevitable happens? When this bubble pops, 2008 will seem like a nonevent.  Please protect yourself and be prepared.

The economic collapse in Venezuela has worsened and is now in the midst of hyperinflation. The average Venezuelan has lost 25 lbs. not by choice, but rather because people are starving to death! Folks, this is what 20 years of socialism gets you!  It gets misery and equality of misery!  The government doesn’t create prosperity, but rather gets in the way of it and makes it harder for you to achieve. When will people wake up and learn from history!? I won’t be holding my breath.

Federal Reserve has raised interest rates for the first time under the new fed chair, Jerome Powell, to the rage of 1.5% to 1.75%. The Fed and the “experts” out there think that the Fed will for sure raise rates 3 times this year but I wouldn’t be too sure about that.  I think there’s a good chance that the only other time rates will go up in 2018 is in December. Listen to this episode to find out my reasons behind this and what I think about Larry Kudlow as Trump’s new chief economic advisor.

President Trump recently announced a new 25% tariff on steel and 10% tariff on aluminum imports. Tariffs are a horrible policy and protectionism doesn’t work!  It might save a few jobs in the very short term but long term it’s a major job killer!  Protectionism makes our companies less innovative and actually leads to U.S. companies being less competitive overseas!  This is exactly what we don’t need right now!  Tariffs cause a lot of intended consequences and I mention many of them in this episode.