Retail sales offer hope - June 13, 2008 8:47

There is no question that the concerns of the Bush Administration, Central Bank, and American consumers have shifted toward rising inflation and consumer prices. While there are certainly sectors of the economy that still have holes to dig out of, a one percent rise in May retail sales validated statements recently from Federal Reserve Chairman […]

The Weekly Report Update - June 12, 2008 8:52

In Sundays Weekly Report we looked at some charts that showed the Occasional Letter proprietary indicator in an experimental role on the hourly Dow. As this weeks targets have now been hit I thought it would be appropriate to update the charts to show you the outcome.

Dope, Dollars & Deficits - June 11, 2008 21:21

DO DEFICITS MATTER? Right around the time that English missionaries produced the first Bible in Chinese, the British Empire found itself with a trickier kind of translation problem.

Dollar Surges - June 11, 2008 9:04

The dollar is proving resilient, which provided some need relief from surging oil and gasoline prices Tuesday (June 10). The national average retail gasoline price did spurt higher by 2 cents to a price of $4.043, according AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. However, after reaching a new record high of $139.12 per barrel […]

Consumer Capitulation - June 10, 2008 9:12

You may have read in my previous articles how I see the wealth confiscation taking place affecting consumers and consumer expectations. Simply put, if goods and services become too expensive relative to consumer income then the consumer will capitulate and conserve what little spending power remains for essentials. In other words, you can put any […]

Gold Starts the Week $20 Higher - June 9, 2008 13:21

SPOT GOLD PRICES rose sharply at the London opening on Monday, starting the week $20 per ounce above last Monday’s start as crude oil dipped from its new all-time highs.

Oil and gas rise as dollar dwindles - June 6, 2008 14:49

Just when oil seemed poised for an extended price regression, after dipping to $122 Wednesday, a new one day record for futures price gains interrupted the downward momentum. Light sweet crude oil actually slipped a bit off its daily high before closing at $129.79 in New York trade today (June 5). The $5.49 price gain […]

It’s Time - June 5, 2008 11:12

Ben Bernanke did something very unusual this week. He mentioned the strength, or lack of, in the US Dollar. This is a big moment, whenever asked before, including in front of Congress et al, Bernanke has refused to comment.

Inflation concerns grow - June 4, 2008 9:22

No one is ready to guarantee that the US economy is beyond concern, but Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and other central bank members have been hinting that inflation is moving to the forefront of policy consideration.