augustus

I am predicting many bank failures over the next couple of years. The US banking system has $2 trillion in unrecognized bond losses because of the rise in interest rates (and because interest rates were held too low for years).

BofA and Citi didn't actually fail. They received TARP money and actually paid it all back with interest. All the big banks were forced to take TARP money whether they needed it or not, so there wouldn't be a run on the weaker ones like Citi that did receive TARP money.

Malinformation and complete false info is being peddled. Inflation boosts the fortunes of the top quintile of US earners and kills the living standards of the other 80%. The notion no one would ever want prices to go back down (the new talking point), is so insulting to those of lesser means, it is shocking anyone, would actually be so tone death, as to voice it. Never, in the history of the US, have the powers that be been so solely focused on aid to the well-educated and well heeled, at the expense of all other Americans.

You have no "Master's of Economics". The "core" numbers are always cited by the Fed, among others, in their decision making. There are several measures of the inflation rate and some don't include food and energy. Don't argue with me. The gibberish is yours.

Then the media and government reports that "Core prices, which exclude volatile food and energy items, logged their lowest increase since April 2021".... So the measure of inflation excludes food and energy (and a lot of other things) The two items that impact consumers most. Any wonder why the public says "BS".

We end up nowhere, that's where. You brought up the rise in disposable income (and the numbers you cited are incorrect). Then you totally ignore the double digit increases in prices for goods and services, many of which aren't even included in the CPI numbers or are given a low weighting. Everyone knows what time it is, except a small minority in denial. THAT is what you are avoiding.

Prices for fuel, food, rent, insurance, property taxes, insurance have soared 30-50% in the past few years and people really have the gall to say things are well.

The Covid payments were an anomaly! Even taking those temporary payments out of the equation, inflation since then has decimated the standard of living.

Yeah, adjusted for inflation. Be serious. You claimed to have a Master's in Economics. Not.

Just stop. Here's the numbers from the Federal Reserve on REAL disposal income. It has dropped nearly 10% since 2020. It was $54,327 in April, 2020 and now it is $50,417 in April, 2024. FRED Economic Data FRED.STLOUISFED.ORG Real Disposable Personal Income: Per Capita

Inflation is rising 1/10 of a point slower, than last month, at least until the numbers are adjusted up. Wow! Let's throw a party. That totally cancels out gas up 50%, food up nearly 40%, electricity up 30%, housing costs up 50%, etc etc the last 3 years.

Yeah, and asteroids slow down right before they slam into the earth. The damage is still significant.

Are you serious?? Tax rates have stayed the same the past few years.

The latest CPI numbers are a joke! 3.4%, which we all know will be adjusted to between 3.6% to 3.8% next month, doesn't include food and fuel which every single American uses, or even service inflation which is now getting out of control. Just try getting your car repaired.

United States Real Per Capita Personal Income: Annual Percent Change, 1959-2023....... Incorrect! REAL disposal income (adjusted for inflation) is down and even worse than the above graph shows, as the inflation rate is officially understated. It's all over the news. United States | Per Capita Personal Income Trends over 1958-2023 (reaproject.org)

I keep reading and hearing horror stories about Florida real estate. My cousin owns a condo in Naples and his monthly charges (HOA, property taxes, insurance) has gone from 2k a month to 4k a month in the last year. It's a shame. Florida is beautiful in the fall and winter months.

People just have less disposable income to dispose of these days.

I thought knee high socks were for old people.

Try Visitor Guard. I know several Indians who have used it.

No doubt. But this is caused by excess money printing and debt that stokes demand. All this excess liquidity is causing excess demand that pushes up prices. You want to call it greedflation. It's people doing things to make money, like the idiot house flippers that have brought up 30% of the nation's housing stock and caused housing and home costs to skyrocket and cause widespread misery. The origin of all this mess is irresponsible fiscal and monetary policies.

It is the fiscal side, the unruly spending, subsidize everything that is counterbalancing tighter money. Powell needs to open his mouth and say so. The politicians couldn't care less because they just blame Wall Street and greedy businessmen, etc. And the dopey population believes it.

It is astonishing how people believe the propaganda that inflation is the result of the greedy farmers and the greedy businessmen and supply side disruptions and whatever crap is told them. Inflation is caused by excess money printing to finance large government deficits and it continues unabated to this day.

......and car insurance, home insurance, car repairs, home repairs and much more.

@Rick M he doesn't have the same feelings for you, as you do for him. It is what it is. Please don't extend him money again.

You are welcome. You know, a fixed rate of 1.3% plus the inflation rate is not bad. If you hold the bonds for the full 30 years (and still alive) you get about 40% real return. It is very important to take inflation into account these days with the National Debt so high, worse than in 1945 to pay for war spending. Are you aware that the war bonds issued during the war years had a 10-year maturity and paid 2.5%, with no CPI adjustment? But the CPI soared 30% from 1946-1948 as the government printed money to pay its enormous debts, resulting in serious losses for the savers.