US workers dip into retirement accounts; “Buy Now Pay Later” spending surges to record levels.

American workers facing financial hardships are increasingly tapping into their retirement accounts, with hardship withdrawals surging by 30% last year. As a result, one in six workers now has an outstanding loan on their retirement, significantly impacting average 401k balances and raising questions about the sustainability of consumer borrowing, especially …

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Higher levels of financial optimism associated with lower levels of cognitive ability

via phys.org: A behavioral economist at the University of Bath in the U.K. has found evidence linking higher levels of unwarranted financial optimism with lower levels of cognitive ability. In his study, published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Chris Dawson surveyed thousands of people in the U.K. about their economic …

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German PPI is contracting at recessionary levels…

German PPI is contracting at recessionary levels… pic.twitter.com/gzdKkB17od — Longview Economics (@Lvieweconomics) November 20, 2023 🇩🇪 Germany weighs suspending 'inflexible' debt brake as coalition cracks show German Economy Minister Robert Habeck on Monday criticised sticking to what he called the country's "inflexible" debt brake and took a swipe at Finance …

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When does debt reach unsustainable levels?

by theSilverVigilante As of September 30, 2023, the federal “debt held by the public” (herein, “debt”) stood at $26.3 trillion, or about 98 percent of projected GDP. The “public debt outstanding” of $33.2 trillion often cited in media is largely misleading and not relevant for assessing economic impact; about $6.8 …

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Manufacturing Contracts, Goldman’s Capex Tracker Dips, and Business Inventory Nears Contraction Levels, Echoing Troubling Precedents

The convergence of contracting manufacturing, a downward trend in Goldman’s Capex tracker, and business inventory nearing contraction levels raises ominous parallels with past economic downturns. This alarming pattern, witnessed during the Dot Com bubble, the Financial Crisis, and the Pandemic, underscores potential challenges ahead for the economy. Manufacturing pic.twitter.com/7NYfAV8mVk — …

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Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway sells stocks as cash pile swells to record levels

https://www.ft.com/content/4ec10c1b-a365-483f-8566-e2ff47435dd5?ftcamp=traffic/partner/feed_headline/us_yahoo/auddev “Conglomerate offloads more than $5bn worth of US and international shares” “The company sold more than $5bn worth of US and foreign stocks in the third quarter, according to results released on Saturday. The sales lifted Berkshire’s divestments of listed shares to nearly $40bn over the past year.”   …

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Back In Red! C&I Loan Lending Standards Tightening To Recession Era Levels (Bank Credit Growth Remains Negative For Twelve Straight Week)

by confoundedinterest17 Back in red? As US fiscal policy deteriorates further thanks to endless Federal spending (not to mention seemingly endless wars under Biden and Nobel Peace Prize winner Obama), we are seeing pain in the bank lending business. Commercial and industrial (C&I) loan lending standards is tightening (blue line) to …

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The housing rental market is in dire straits, with vacancy rates skyrocketing to the highest levels in half a decade

Cities like Phoenix on the brink of recording all-time high eviction numbers, as a growing number of apartments resort to desperate measures, including offering three months of free rent, amidst an unprecedented construction boom. The housing rental market is absolutely FUCKED. We've been reporting cracks in vacancy rates for over …

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In September, subprime auto borrowers recorded the highest delinquency rate in history at 6.1%, surpassing levels seen in 1994 and 2008.

As Americans grapple with average monthly payments of $500 for student loans and $740 for new cars, resulting in the average American spending a staggering $1,240 each month just to finance a car and manage student debt, with delinquency rates expected to keep climbing. Meanwhile, the median homebuyer is spending …

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Gold to hit record levels in 6 different major currencies. The US dollar is the next one in line.

Gold to hit record levels in 6 different major currencies. EuroBritish PoundChinese YuanAustralian DollarsJapanese YenKorean Won The US dollar is the next one in line. pic.twitter.com/Ili2oKEBxd — Otavio (Tavi) Costa (@TaviCosta) October 19, 2023 Gold is starting to sniff that some sort of yield curve control measure is inevitable. The …

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Unprecedented Tech Bubble: The Ratio of The Nasdaq To US Treasuries Soar Beyond Historic Levels; Stocks Are Also The Most Expensive Relative To Fixed Income In Over 20 Years

The Nasdaq’s return compared to US Treasuries is now at a record high, surpassing levels seen during previous bubbles and indicating a significant gap between equity and bond returns. So many unsustainable metrics out there right now. This also underscores the significant outperformance of the S&P 7 to the remainder …

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Rite Aid files for bankruptcy – 2,100 stores at risk of closure… Corporate bankruptcies in 2023 are now at the same levels seen during the 2020 pandemic.

Corporate bankruptcies in 2023 are now at the same levels seen during the 2020 pandemic. We are also seeing the highest number of bankruptcies since 2010. Needless to say, many companies are feeling the pain. Follow us @KobeissiLetter for real time analysis as this develops. — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) …

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Mortgage demand drops to the lowest levels since 1996 as interest rates hit 8%. Mortgage applications for home purchases are down 22% compared to a year ago.

by TonyLiberty Mortgage demand drops to the lowest levels since 1996 as interest rates hit 8%. Mortgage applications for home purchases are down 22% compared to a year ago. ​ Rising rates are pushing more potential homebuyers out of the market but the Federal Reserve is expected to keep raising …

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The Israel-Hamas tension could lead to more government spending, especially on defense, despite already high spending levels, due to the strong US-Israel alliance; The real “winners” of wars are those who produce weapons.

From a government spending perspective, the increasing tensions between Israel and Hamas arguably carry an even greater significance. Unlike the Russia-Ukraine war, the recent conflict will likely receive bipartisan support for additional military aid due to Israel's strong… pic.twitter.com/gbvZW5MqKq — Otavio (Tavi) Costa (@TaviCosta) October 9, 2023 Winners: Weapon-makers: Lockheed …

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10Y YIELD HITS 4.62%! Interest rates on just about everything are going to shift significantly higher. Percentage of credit card and auto loan balances transitioning to serious delinquency have surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

The 10-year note yield is skyrocketing and now at 4.63%, its highest since June 2007. Since last week’s Fed meeting, the 10-year note yield is up 35 basis points. Since the last Fed rate hike in July, the 10-year note yield is up 60 basis points. Interest rates on just …

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Never a worse time to own stocks… Danielle DiMartino Booth: If you buy stocks at these levels you’re getting ripped off

Zerohedge sees a bounce any time:https://t.co/o2rER2lXOH What they don't realize is that today the stock / bond ratio reached a new all time extreme. Never a worse time to own stocks. pic.twitter.com/cajdfONS0y — Mac10 (@SuburbanDrone) September 25, 2023 The only consistently reliable BOTTOM indicator for the past several years has …

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Rite AId pharmacy will reportedly close 400 to 500 stores as it plans to file for bankruptcy… US courts are overwhelmed with bankruptcy cases at record levels.

via foxbusiness: Pharmacy giant Rite Aid is negotiating terms of a bankruptcy plan that could see a significant number of its more than 2,100 drugstores permanently close, according to a report. People familiar with the company’s talks with creditors told the Wall Street Journal that Rite Aid has proposed to …

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Divorce Rates About To Explode To Record Levels In 2024

by AC I predict that by the end of January 2024, after retail sales from holiday spending posts lethargic consumer spending, companies will begin slashing millions of jobs causing wide-spread mortgage defaults. REO and foreclosures will flood the real estate market as real estate investors rush to liquidate their inventories …

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