Tag Archive: debt

March 12, 2019 |

U.S. Treasury Taking Steps to Avoid Debt Ceiling

US Treasury, Debt Ceiling

As U.S. debt has soared past the $22 trillion level, the ongoing problem is once again catching some attention. It was recently reported that the Treasury Department is taking some extraordinary measures to avoid violating the debt ceiling as it could have significant effects. Reuters reported that Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin sent a letter to House Speak Nancy Pelosi on Monday saying he was suspending investment in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund and that a “debt issuance suspension period” would commence on Monday... Continue Reading

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December 26, 2017 |

Now is the Time

Economic Indicators

As 2017 draws to a close, now is the time to take stock of your holdings and to plan ahead for the challenges of 2018. Constantly changing market dynamics as well as economic and geopolitical influences necessitate a proactive approach to investing, and there is no better time to get started than right now. The passage of the Trump administration’s tax overhaul could potentially fuel an economic boom, although its effects may take some time to trickle down. With or without increasing economic activity, there... Continue Reading

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December 11, 2017 |

Will Added Debt Finally Become Too Much?

Regardless of what you may think about the Trump administration’s tax reforms, the current levels of U.S. debt are not sustainable. With over $20 trillion in debt already, the nation could potentially add to the deficit as it lowers tax revenues. The argument for such a move is that increased economic activity and production will pave the way for that deficit to be brought back under control. Even if that proves to be the case, the problem with debt is that not only does the... Continue Reading

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September 13, 2017 |

U.S. Crosses $20 Trillion in Debt Threshold

The United States was reportedly in debt as of Friday to the tune of $20.16 trillion. Yes-that’s trillion. To put this figure into context, well, let’s just say that you could stack $100 bills in massive piles all around the Statue of Liberty, and literally box her completely in. How did the U.S. get here you may be thinking…Well, the massive debt is a combination of things including previous tax cuts, fighting in wars and economic stimulus. Think about that for a moment. The Iraq... Continue Reading

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May 29, 2017 |

Will the Consumer Sink the Ship?

It’s no secret that first quarter growth was lousy. Many analysts, however, see the economy bouncing back in the second quarter. If the Fed plans to stay on its current course of rate hikes (which it appears to be doing), the central bank must also assume that economic activity will be stronger in Q2. What if these assumptions prove to be false? Q1 GDP came in at a skinny rate of just .7%, and estimates appear to be looking for growth of around 2.5% in... Continue Reading

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March 6, 2017 |

A Sign of Strength

Rally

The Dow has hit a major milestone – 21000. Markets continue to cheer on the Trump administration, and are moving higher on hopes of stronger economic activity and tax cuts. Interest rates have begun to rise again, and the dollar index is also on the move to the upside again. Interest rates could potentially challenge their post-election highs while the dollar index could do the same. The Fed has sounded significantly more hawkish, and a March interest rate hike is now not only very much... Continue Reading

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September 20, 2016 |

Putting U.S. Debt into Perspective

Credit card flag

The issue of debt is often discussed in the same context as physical gold, and with good reason in our opinion. While the U.S. debt situation comes up now and again among investors, it is amazing how the issue is most often simply swept under the rug. It seems that the only time it really becomes a concern with the public is when the government is facing a possible shutdown over budgetary disagreements. Debt is one of those types of problems, however, that will not... Continue Reading

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July 28, 2016 |

Trump Win Could Drive Blistering Rally in Gold

Democrats vs Republicans

It’s no surprise that with a presidential election comes a lot of uncertainty. After all, various candidates can have wildly differing views on the domestic economy, monetary and economic policy, foreign policy and more. There is certainly a lot riding on the upcoming U.S. Presidential election in what is shaping up to be an intense race. In fact, the nation appears to be very divided, with very different opinions and plans being presented by both candidates. As the election approaches, uncertainty surrounding the potential outcome... Continue Reading

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July 18, 2016 |

A Black Hole of Debt

Black hole

In the German language, the word for debt – ‘schuld’ – means the same thing as guilt. Someone who has a tremendous amount of guilt would seek forgiveness. So the term many economists are now using – forgiveness – in regards the world’s growing debt problem would seem appropriate. But this term does not encapsulate the crises that would result if a large portion of debt was erased by policy makers. Until recently, the term ‘debt forgiveness’ in regards to government and corporate debt was... Continue Reading

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April 29, 2016 |

Is the Global Economy Entering a Period of Deflation?

Financial Crisis

Does debt work? This question already appears to have found an answer, and the coming years could reinforce the notion that the massive amounts of debt accumulated around the world are due at some point, and a price will have to be paid. That day could be closer than many realize… Take a look at how equity markets began 2016. The Dow Jones saw its worst start on record, the S&P 500 tumbled, and crude oil prices continued their slide to trade below $30 per... Continue Reading

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