Independent thinking for complex markets and current events
The sharpest signals, deepst dives and must-read reports from Citizen Watch Report.
Non-bank financial institutions are increasingly posing risks to America’s big banks, according to a post on the New York Fed’s Liberty Street Economics blog. During times of heightened market-wide stress, non-banks seek term loans and lines of credit, putting pressure on banks to provide liquidity. This reliance on big banks could lead to “vectors of shock …
The impact of inflation has been particularly challenging for middle-class Americans. As prices surged, their income growth failed to keep pace, resulting in a strain on their ability to maintain their desired lifestyle. In fact, 72% of middle-income families now report that their earnings are falling behind the cost of living, up from 68% a year ago. Additionally, 74% say …
According to research by DeclassifiedUK, approximately 180 current Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK have received money from Israel Lobby groups or individuals. Among them, 130 Conservative MPs, 41 Labour MPs, 3 Liberal Democrats, 3 members of the DUP, 2 independents, and Reform’s only MP have been identified as recipients of support from the Israel Lobby. Additionally, these politicians have taken 240 paid-for trips to Israel, …
Pulled this from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuZRhbUroHA Essentially the existing v. new home market has never been this inverted, and typically it will always revert back to its mean. There’s a million variables at play, but I imagine it would be like a used car costing much more than a new car, it’s just real estate is …
In a surprising twist, car prices are experiencing a dramatic shift. After years of seemingly endless climbs, prices are now plummeting at an alarming rate. Here are some key points: New Vehicle Prices: Industry analysts report that the average price of a new vehicle has dropped by nearly 20% year-over-year. This decline is a welcome …
by confoundedinterest17 It begs the question: where are the 10+ million illegal immigrants living who have poured over the border under Binden/Mayorkas? Especially when 5+ units housing starts dropped -51.7% since last year (YoY) in May. And the trend under Biden looks terrible! Despite ugly consumer confidence and soaring mortgage rates, analysts expected a small …
Vietnam’s internet connectivity has faced disruptions once again due to three out of five submarine internet cables going down around June 15, 2024. These outages have significantly affected Vietnam’s connection with the world, making some offshore websites difficult to access. The impacted cables include: Intra Asia (IA) connection to Singapore. Asia Pacific Gateway (APG) link. Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1) pipeline. As a result, only two subsea cables …
Inflation has persisted so long now I’m forced to consider whether the Fed is really as concerned with it as Powell lets on. Maybe they realize the cure could kill the patient? From Peter Reagan for Birch Gold Group Key Takeaways Deliberate inflation robs us not only of purchasing power but of heartbeats The Fed has destroyed …
According to recent reports, continuing claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. have reached their highest level in two years. As of the week ending November 18, 2023, approximately 1.93 million people were collecting unemployment benefits, which is about 86,000 more than the previous week. This trend indicates that some individuals who are already unemployed may be facing challenges in finding new work. …
In an alarming trend between 2020 and 2022, California witnessed a dramatic population decline, with a staggering 700,000 residents fleeing the state. This mass exodus, primarily to Texas, marks the largest state-to-state migration in U.S. history, as reported by U.S. Census data. Over the past decade, the Golden State saw 8.5 million people relocate elsewhere, …
Massachusetts faces the risk of losing nearly $1 billion in annual tax revenue by 2030 due to high taxes and housing costs driving wealthy residents to relocate. The pandemic accelerated migration out of Massachusetts to other U.S. states, facilitated by the rise of remote work, making it feasible for people to live farther from their offices. According to a study …
The backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has indeed spread to more states. In at least 22 states, measures related to DEI at state university systems have been either banned or rolled back. For instance, in Utah, Republican state Rep. Katy Hall successfully sponsored a new law that prohibits the use of DEI statements …
U.S. interest payments on its debt are now set to exceed defense spending. This year, federal spending on interest payments is forecast to reach $870 billion, surpassing the $822 billion allocated for defense in 2024. The rising interest costs are driven by factors such as increased debt resulting from tax cuts and pandemic-related aid. While this development raises concerns, it’s …
There have been recent developments regarding Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. On Thursday morning, the FBI conducted a raid at her home in the Lincoln Highlands neighborhood. The reason for the raid remains undisclosed, but it’s worth noting that recall organizers have called for Thao’s resignation as mayor, and the recall effort has garnered enough signatures to …
Multifamily—which is working through a large pandemic era pipeline—is in the early stages of its downshift pic.twitter.com/CDWLL5rxPO — Lance Lambert (@NewsLambert) June 20, 2024 🏢📉 CRE CLO distress rate hits 9.74% in May, up 114 bps! 📊 Over 36.5% on watchlists. 🤔 What’s your take? #RealEstate pic.twitter.com/ILY3DYO5fB — Kaufman Real Estate & Consulting (@DanielKaufmanRe) June …
Gravity is unrelenting and inevitably prevails. The forward P/E ratio of the S&P 500 is now nearly as high as it was at the peak of the Tech Bubble. It's understandable that during periods of euphoria, less experienced investors might claim that valuations are irrelevant. I… pic.twitter.com/wxuM2GcZ5T — Otavio (Tavi) Costa (@TaviCosta) June 20, 2024 …
67% of middle-class Americans express concern that their income isn’t keeping pace with the rising cost of living. This situation has led to what JPMorgan analyst Matthew Boss calls a “selective recession.” While upper-income consumers fare better, lower-income Americans are struggling to make ends meet due to elevated prices and dwindling savings. The pressure persists as inflation continues, …
California’s Share of Unemployed: California currently accounts for approximately 20% of the nation’s jobless claims, which is significantly higher than its 11% share of the labor force population. This indicates that a disproportionate number of unemployment claims are coming from California. California in a jam after borrowing billions to pay unemployment benefits "…20% of the unemployed happen to live in …
BEWARE: Housing defaults have just hit the highest levels since 2011 This is not looking good pic.twitter.com/lFqQMxpVNt — Bravos Research (@bravosresearch) June 19, 2024 Here's a comparison of home prices through 23 & 24 months since cycle peaks. 2006-08 vs 2022-24 on left. On the right is months 25 and on of the 06 cycle. …
Amid rising financial pressures, a recent LendingTree study reveals that over 18 million Americans are living in homes that strain their budgets, highlighting a growing crisis of being house poor in high-cost states like California, Hawaii, and New York. House Poor Americans: A recent study by LendingTree revealed that more than 18 million Americans are living in …
In a shocking turn of events, Allison Huynh, a tech mogul who once played a pivotal role in raising millions for Barack Obama, has flipped her allegiance and is now backing Donald Trump. Known for her extensive support of the Democratic Party, Huynh’s dramatic switch is sending shockwaves through political circles and raising critical questions …
The current economy is putting many businesses on the brink, and Costco is no exception. Execs seem deeply worried about the company’s performance in recent months because sales have been weakening all across the board. Even though buying in bulk can save consumers’ money down the line, for many, shopping in big quantities isn’t making …
Although most US homeowners are immune from higher mortgage rates because they have fixed-rate mortgages, that’s not true for other types of credit. The delinquency rate on credit card loans is now the same as it was in 2010, a year when the unemployment rate was over 9%. pic.twitter.com/Nu2aobWKeB — Peter Berezin (@PeterBerezinBCA) June 14, …
by Michael The Social Security program was instituted to help elderly Americans thrive during their retirement years. Unfortunately, millions upon millions of retired Americans are finding that their monthly Social Security payments are simply not enough as the cost of living spirals out of control. One recent survey found that a whopping 85 percent of U.S. adults …
According to a recent report from Food Banks Canada, approximately 25% of Canadians may be living in poverty. The report introduced a material deprivation index (MDI), which assesses 11 essential items that Canadians surveyed said they could not afford. These items include clothing and dental care. Based on this metric, the report estimates that 10 million of Canada’s 40 million people are living …
The iconic Hollywood Arby’s location on Sunset Boulevard recently closed its doors after more than five decades in business. The closure was attributed to a combination of factors, including the pandemic, low foot traffic, rising food costs, and California’s $20-an-hour minimum wage. The restaurant’s general manager, Gary Husch, stated that the minimum wage increase was …
In downtown Los Angeles, the Weingart Center Tower has recently opened as a high-rise homeless shelter. Here are the key details: The tower comprises 228 studio apartments, 47 one-bedroom apartments, and three apartments for onsite managers. Each unit costs an estimated $600,000 and is funded by taxpayers. Residents will have access to amenities such as a gym, an art room, a music room, and …
https://imgur.com/ElPkRoC BREAKING: Just Stop Oil Spray Stonehenge Orange 2 people took action the day before Summer Solstice, demanding the incoming government sign up to a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030. https://chuffed.org/project/just-stop-oil-2024 🚨 BREAKING: Just Stop Oil Spray Stonehenge Orange 🔥 2 people took action the day before Summer Solstice, demanding …
US greenlights new arms sale to Taiwan The $360 million deal will provide Taipei with hundreds of armed drones and missileshttps://t.co/NtPggB6S2s pic.twitter.com/OP5bDLQ24H — RT (@RT_com) June 19, 2024 BREAKING – Putin says Russia and North Korea ‘fighting US hegemony together’ https://t.co/JVar8P0dyj — Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) June 19, 2024 Threat of major terror attack in places …
Pelosi’s J6 Select Committee deemed “ILLEGITIMATE” in new House resolution.. DEVELOPING.. If congress acts this would END THE CRIMINAL CHARGES holding Dan Scavino, Peter Navarro, Mark Meadows, and Steve Bannon, in Contemp.. BREAKING REPORT: ⚠️ Pelosi’s J6 Select Committee deemed "ILLEGITIMATE" in new House resolution.. DEVELOPING.. If congress acts this would END THE CRIMINAL CHARGES …