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Consumers borrowed less for a record eighth straight month in September amid rising unemployment and tight credit conditions. Economists worry the declines in borrowing will drag on the fledgling recovery.
The Federal Reserve said Friday that borrowing fell at an annual rate of $14.8 billion in September. That's the biggest decline since July and was larger than the $10 billion drop economists expected.
Americans are borrowing less as they try to repair cracked nest eggs and replenish rainy day funds in a dismal jobs market. Many are finding it hard to get credit as banks, hit by the worst financial crisis in decades, have tightened lending standards.
The Federal Reserve said Friday that borrowing fell at an annual rate of $14.8 billion in September. That's the biggest decline since July and was larger than the $10 billion drop economists expected.
Americans are borrowing less as they try to repair cracked nest eggs and replenish rainy day funds in a dismal jobs market. Many are finding it hard to get credit as banks, hit by the worst financial crisis in decades, have tightened lending standards.
- Associated Press
The under-30 crowd that clamored for Barack Obama last year needs to brace for a change they won't believe in: The return of income tax "bracket creep," according to The Wall Street Journal's editorial page.
"Buried in Nancy Pelosi's health-care bill is a provision that will partially repeal tax indexing for inflation, meaning that as their earnings rise over a lifetime these youngsters can look forward to paying higher rates even if their income gains aren't real," the editors write.
This is budget trickery at its worst: To raise money to make their plan appear as if it won't add to the federal deficit, House Democrats have intentionally not indexed the main tax feature of their plan: the $500,000 threshold for the 5.4-percentage-point income tax surcharge, and the tax on small businesses which don't provide health insurance benefits.
"This is a sneaky way for politicians to pry more money out of workers every year without having to legislate tax increases," write the editors.
"Buried in Nancy Pelosi's health-care bill is a provision that will partially repeal tax indexing for inflation, meaning that as their earnings rise over a lifetime these youngsters can look forward to paying higher rates even if their income gains aren't real," the editors write.
This is budget trickery at its worst: To raise money to make their plan appear as if it won't add to the federal deficit, House Democrats have intentionally not indexed the main tax feature of their plan: the $500,000 threshold for the 5.4-percentage-point income tax surcharge, and the tax on small businesses which don't provide health insurance benefits.
"This is a sneaky way for politicians to pry more money out of workers every year without having to legislate tax increases," write the editors.
- Newsmax
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Looking for a Couple to Go On a Business Adventure
By Tom Dyson Monday, November 9, 2009 Looking for a Couple to Go On a Business Adventure -
The Central Investment Problem of Our Time
By Chris Weber Saturday, November 7, 2009 The Central Investment Problem of Our Time -
35% Return on Capital Is Normal Here
By Dr. Steve Sjuggerud Friday, November 6, 2009 35% Return on Capital Is Normal Here -
A Still-Safe 18% Dividend
By Dr. Steve Sjuggerud Thursday, November 5, 2009 A Still-Safe 18% Dividend -
The Best Simple Gold Indicator Around
By Dr. Steve Sjuggerud Wednesday, November 4, 2009 The Best Simple Gold Indicator Around
The Four Best Places to Keep Your Gold
By Tom DysonTuesday, November 10, 2009
"Keep moving," said the TSA agent...
Two years ago, I traveled from Las Vegas to Baltimore with five gold coins – worth $8,000 – in my pocket. I wanted to know if the gold coins would set off the airport security systems.
I put my bag onto the belt and threw my shoes into a plastic bin. I kept the coins in my pocket. The security officer beckoned me through the metal detector.
Nothing happened. The gold coins did not set off the metal detector.
I love owning physical gold bullion. With gold bullion, I have an asset that'll never lose its value or its utility, no matter what happens in politics or the economy. I can't always buy the gold I want at the shop around the corner, so I've spent some time researching the ins and outs of transporting and storing my gold...
For example, if you're moving gold out of the country, keep it in your pocket, not your hand luggage. Only ferrous metal (which contains iron) sets off the detectors in airports. So pure gold coins in your pocket will not set off airport metal detectors. If the gold is in your hand luggage, it will show up in the x-ray machine.
Last week, I sat down with Michael Checkan, an international gold investment specialist who's been in the business for 30 years. I asked him to discuss the different ways to store your gold once you've bought it...
A bank safety deposit box was the first solution Michael mentioned. It is the easiest. Boxes cost as little as $50 a year. If you're already a customer of the bank, they may even offer it to you for free.
But I have a problem with banks. What if they go bankrupt? You don't want to get stuck banging on a locked door when you need your coins in a hurry. Second, Michael says the Feds can force banks to divulge information about your security box. They can force the bank to tell them whether or not you own a box. Then the Feds can issue a subpoena and force the bank to open it.
So Michael suggested keeping gold bullion in an IRA...
To qualify for inclusion in an IRA, the gold must by pure, 24-karat gold. The Feds make one exception to this rule: They allow you to put the U.S. Eagle, a 22-karat gold coin, in your IRA. (Here's a good FAQ about including gold bullion in an IRA.)
I see a couple of big problems with buying gold in your IRA. First, you can't put coins you already own into an IRA. You have to make a fresh purchase. Secondly, you don't have access to the coins. A qualified custodian must keep them on your behalf.
Another option is to send your gold overseas to a private security vault. I like this idea. You keep your gold where it's out of reach of the U.S. government. These private vaults don't qualify as financial institutions, so you don't have to report them as foreign accounts when you file your taxes. Michael recommends Safes Fidelity in Geneva and Das Safe in Vienna. These are the two safest, most confidential vault businesses in the world. You can send them your gold through the mail. Just make sure you use registered insured mail. Or you can take it there yourself.
But of all the places Michael suggested, hiding gold on your property was my favorite solution. You have instant 24-hour access to your gold, and you don't pay any storage charges. The key is, it has to be safe.
One option is to install a safe or a gun locker in a discreet part of your house. Make sure you secure the safe to the floor so a thief can't carry it out of your house. Or you can bury the gold in your backyard or a friend's backyard. You can buy waterproof coin tubes online or go to Home Depot and buy a PVC tube and caps to seal the ends.
Just make sure you tell one person where you hid it... in case something happens to you. And don't tell anyone else.
Good investing,
Tom
P.S. Michael Checkan has been helping investors use precious metals and foreign currencies for 30 years. He's extremely knowledgeable and has offered to answer any questions for DailyWealth readers. Visit his website at www.assetstrategies.com or call 1-800-831-0007.
Two years ago, I traveled from Las Vegas to Baltimore with five gold coins – worth $8,000 – in my pocket. I wanted to know if the gold coins would set off the airport security systems.
I put my bag onto the belt and threw my shoes into a plastic bin. I kept the coins in my pocket. The security officer beckoned me through the metal detector.
Nothing happened. The gold coins did not set off the metal detector.
I love owning physical gold bullion. With gold bullion, I have an asset that'll never lose its value or its utility, no matter what happens in politics or the economy. I can't always buy the gold I want at the shop around the corner, so I've spent some time researching the ins and outs of transporting and storing my gold...
For example, if you're moving gold out of the country, keep it in your pocket, not your hand luggage. Only ferrous metal (which contains iron) sets off the detectors in airports. So pure gold coins in your pocket will not set off airport metal detectors. If the gold is in your hand luggage, it will show up in the x-ray machine.
Last week, I sat down with Michael Checkan, an international gold investment specialist who's been in the business for 30 years. I asked him to discuss the different ways to store your gold once you've bought it...
A bank safety deposit box was the first solution Michael mentioned. It is the easiest. Boxes cost as little as $50 a year. If you're already a customer of the bank, they may even offer it to you for free.
But I have a problem with banks. What if they go bankrupt? You don't want to get stuck banging on a locked door when you need your coins in a hurry. Second, Michael says the Feds can force banks to divulge information about your security box. They can force the bank to tell them whether or not you own a box. Then the Feds can issue a subpoena and force the bank to open it.
So Michael suggested keeping gold bullion in an IRA...
To qualify for inclusion in an IRA, the gold must by pure, 24-karat gold. The Feds make one exception to this rule: They allow you to put the U.S. Eagle, a 22-karat gold coin, in your IRA. (Here's a good FAQ about including gold bullion in an IRA.)
I see a couple of big problems with buying gold in your IRA. First, you can't put coins you already own into an IRA. You have to make a fresh purchase. Secondly, you don't have access to the coins. A qualified custodian must keep them on your behalf.
Another option is to send your gold overseas to a private security vault. I like this idea. You keep your gold where it's out of reach of the U.S. government. These private vaults don't qualify as financial institutions, so you don't have to report them as foreign accounts when you file your taxes. Michael recommends Safes Fidelity in Geneva and Das Safe in Vienna. These are the two safest, most confidential vault businesses in the world. You can send them your gold through the mail. Just make sure you use registered insured mail. Or you can take it there yourself.
But of all the places Michael suggested, hiding gold on your property was my favorite solution. You have instant 24-hour access to your gold, and you don't pay any storage charges. The key is, it has to be safe.
One option is to install a safe or a gun locker in a discreet part of your house. Make sure you secure the safe to the floor so a thief can't carry it out of your house. Or you can bury the gold in your backyard or a friend's backyard. You can buy waterproof coin tubes online or go to Home Depot and buy a PVC tube and caps to seal the ends.
Just make sure you tell one person where you hid it... in case something happens to you. And don't tell anyone else.
Good investing,
Tom
P.S. Michael Checkan has been helping investors use precious metals and foreign currencies for 30 years. He's extremely knowledgeable and has offered to answer any questions for DailyWealth readers. Visit his website at www.assetstrategies.com or call 1-800-831-0007.
THE STEALTH BULL RUN IN RESOURCES CONTINUES
Another day of robust gold, copper, and oil prices... another new high for the Canadian Venture Index, aka the "Dow Industrials of small resource companies."
The "Venture" has become almost a weekly fixture in Market Notes. If inflation powers commodity prices higher, no other sector will match small resource companies for gains. What's more amazing than the profit potential here is the lack of press for this beaten-down sector (which fell 75% last year).
Despite rising 60% since March to strike a fresh 52-week high this week, the Venture is getting zero mainstream press right now. Which brings us to our current take on the rally...
Sure, it's been a big, smooth run for the Venture... and like all bull runs, it will experience a sharp "shakeout." But this shakeout will not occur until you see classic contrarian signals like a cover page in the Wall Street Journal... BusinessWeek... or Kiplinger's. These cover stories will confirm that the public has been sucked in for its regular fleecing (like in China, fertilizer, and commercial real estate). We haven't seen any of those yet, so expect this rally to continue.
The "Venture" has become almost a weekly fixture in Market Notes. If inflation powers commodity prices higher, no other sector will match small resource companies for gains. What's more amazing than the profit potential here is the lack of press for this beaten-down sector (which fell 75% last year).
Despite rising 60% since March to strike a fresh 52-week high this week, the Venture is getting zero mainstream press right now. Which brings us to our current take on the rally...
Sure, it's been a big, smooth run for the Venture... and like all bull runs, it will experience a sharp "shakeout." But this shakeout will not occur until you see classic contrarian signals like a cover page in the Wall Street Journal... BusinessWeek... or Kiplinger's. These cover stories will confirm that the public has been sucked in for its regular fleecing (like in China, fertilizer, and commercial real estate). We haven't seen any of those yet, so expect this rally to continue.