Worst "Recovery" Ever

[GFB]

GFB doesn't have children to rear. And Greg, I've been investing for a very long time, probably much longer than you. I do understand the "numbers". You kind of made fun of me for having precious metals in my port folio. I guess you don't. I also have real estate, do you? I always want to be diverse. I do buy individual stocks and have done well. Where's Mitch when you need him? Do me a favor and ask your brother how much diapers have increased in price. Just the other day, they increased the cost of rearing a child (and it doesn't include college costs). It's now $245,000. That's up quite a bit and young families are having a hard time. But you don't have to buy groceries for a family, pay for dental care, clothes (kids do outgrow clothes quickly). If you aren't hit by this increase in everything, good for you. But don't tell me that there is not inflation. You can believe the gov. numbers, but I'm not going to accept them. How many people are receiving some type of welfare? I'm glad you're insulated from the hardships some families are going through. I can't turn my back on people having a hard time.

Ann, can you understand that my comments have not been about ME or MY experiences.

I've simply been posting the government data on inflation

You made a comment about "the government leaves out food" and certain items. I simply wanted you to know that is not true.

..and not that it's relevant, but I hear my wife tell me about how groceries are going up like crazy, too.

There is no "grocery inflation index" that I know of, but when food and gas are added in..the CPI barely moves.

[GFB]

..and yes, I'm in the stock market..and yes I'm invested in real estate (own a home in a pricey part of the country)..and yes, it's good to be diversified in different types of investments.

Gold is not an investment..it's a speculation.

[planosteve]

In order to claim a 1.9% inflation rate, the BLS has had to redefine it twice.
Inflation today as it was originally measured prior to 1990 is about 10%. As it was revised in in 1980 it is about 6% instead of the 1.9% that is published. Both revisions made to "improve" the CPI were done to reduce the cost to the govt. of various items linked to it such as Social Security. So now any connection between the CPI and the cost to live is a joke.

When somebody tells you that inflation is low refer them to this.
http://www.shadowstats.com/alternate_da ... ion-charts

[GFB]

..and Ann..one more thing.

I can't imagine recommending someone to go view a site called "shadow stats", but the reason I post the things I do, and comment on them accordingly, is because since these are the official government number, things will occur vis a vis the Federal Reserve with interest rates and a whole lot of other things because of them.

In other words, it's ok to believe or disbelieve what the government tells us about inflation, but what they say matters, and effects us all.

That is why I watch all of the labor statistics, inflation data, housing starts, GDP and lots more..these numbers, just as they come from to us..matter..a lot.

..and even they're lies.

[planosteve]

The reason you go to John Williams website is because he knows what he's talking about. Read his resume.
Walter J. "John" Williams was born in 1949. He received an A.B. in Economics, cum laude, from Dartmouth College in 1971, and was awarded a M.B.A. from Dartmouth's Amos Tuck School of Business Administration in 1972, where he was named an Edward Tuck Scholar. During his career as a consulting economist, John has worked with individuals as well as Fortune 500 companies.

You can only access a small part of his website unless you subscribe. That will cost you $175 a year.

[GFB]

The reason you go to John Williams website is because he knows what he's talking about. Read his resume.
Walter J. "John" Williams was born in 1949. He received an A.B. in Economics, cum laude, from Dartmouth College in 1971, and was awarded a M.B.A. from Dartmouth's Amos Tuck School of Business Administration in 1972, where he was named an Edward Tuck Scholar. During his career as a consulting economist, John has worked with individuals as well as Fortune 500 companies.

You can only access a small part of his website unless you subscribe. That will cost you $175 a year.

I just wanted Ann to know..that all the financial people realize what the Fed and the government say and do..
matters a lot.

Besides that, you can always find contrarians, dissenters and wackos that make their money telling everyone they know better.

Steve can help you with all that.

[planosteve]

I will take the advice of a credentialed professional who makes his living from his opinions over a govt. bureaucrat any day.

[GFB]

I will take the advice of a credentialed professional who makes his living from his opinions over a govt. bureaucrat any day.

All of Wall Street..and everyone in the financial industry, is waiting for the next inflation reports, labor statistics, and the rest of it..and what the Fed will do next.

They're not going to Shadow stats..enough said.

[planosteve]

Funny thing about the FED. Their policies only work when they do the opposite of what they are expected to do. Otherwise, the market will move against them before they can act. That's why Greenspan always mumbled jibberish that nobody could figure out what he meant. That's why Bubbles Bernanke kept denying there was a problem over and over in 2007. So, the only thing a FED chairman can do that is effective is to lie.

[GFB]

Funny thing about the FED. Their policies only work when they do the opposite of what they are expected to do. Otherwise, the market will move against them before they can act. That's why Greenspan always mumbled jibberish that nobody could figure out what he meant. That's why Bubbles Bernanke kept denying there was a problem over and over in 2007. So, the only thing a FED chairman can do that is effective is to lie.

Oh, ok.

In that case, the Financial world hangs on every word that the Fed speaks..waiting for the next lie.

[planosteve]

Funny thing about the FED. Their policies only work when they do the opposite of what they are expected to do. Otherwise, the market will move against them before they can act. That's why Greenspan always mumbled jibberish that nobody could figure out what he meant. That's why Bubbles Bernanke kept denying there was a problem over and over in 2007. So, the only thing a FED chairman can do that is effective is to lie.

Oh, ok.

In that case, the Financial world hangs on every word that the Fed speaks..waiting for the next lie.

They are not much interested in what they say but what they are going to do.

[GFB]

Funny thing about the FED. Their policies only work when they do the opposite of what they are expected to do. Otherwise, the market will move against them before they can act. That's why Greenspan always mumbled jibberish that nobody could figure out what he meant. That's why Bubbles Bernanke kept denying there was a problem over and over in 2007. So, the only thing a FED chairman can do that is effective is to lie.

Oh, ok.

In that case, the Financial world hangs on every word that the Fed speaks..waiting for the next lie.

They are not much interested in what they say but what they are going to do.

Oh, so you're saying the Fed matters a lot?

[GFB]

That's all I've been saying..for years.

And if what they do is deeply important to the financial world..the rest of us need to take notice, too.

[GFB]

Whaddya know..important Fed news today.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/fed-minu ... 1408557628

[GFB]

You can access the full story through the drudge report.

[planosteve]

You can access the full story through the drudge report.

That's just a link to the WSJ. But, they can debate all they want about when to raise interest rates. Whenever they do the economy will go into the tank. But, if they don't return to market determined interest rates to return they will destroy it. They are screwed if they do and screwed if they don't. And so are we. The idea that the economy will eventually take off is like Waiting for Godot.

[GFB]

You can access the full story through the drudge report.

That's just a link to the WSJ. But, they can debate all they want about when to raise interest rates. Whenever they do the economy will go into the tank. But, if they don't return to market determined interest rates to return they will destroy it. They are screwed if they do and screwed if they don't. And so are we. The idea that the economy will eventually take off is like Waiting for Godot.

So even the naysayers better be paying attention.

If they don't, no worries..I'll keep us well informed..even when , like now..I'm out of the country.

[planosteve]

You can access the full story through the drudge report.

That's just a link to the WSJ. But, they can debate all they want about when to raise interest rates. Whenever they do the economy will go into the tank. But, if they don't return to market determined interest rates to return they will destroy it. They are screwed if they do and screwed if they don't. And so are we. The idea that the economy will eventually take off is like Waiting for Godot.

So even the naysayers better be paying attention.

If they don't, no worries..I'll keep us well informed..even when , like now..I'm out of the country.

Well then, Gutten Fehrt. And watch out for the Mooslims.

[ann jusko]

I'm done with you and this thread. IF you believe .gov stats, I feel sorry for you. I've been at this a very long time. So far, I've done well. The FED needs an independent auditor but how would we know who is and is not a FED director? We don't. Start your history lesson in 1913. Your own house as your real estate? That's not how to make money in real estate. We have commercial and residential real estate is where the money is. I really and truly don't need you to tell me how to increase my assets.

[GFB]

I'm done with you and this thread. IF you believe .gov stats, I feel sorry for you. I've been at this a very long time. So far, I've done well. The FED needs an independent auditor but how would we know who is and is not a FED director? We don't. Start your history lesson in 1913. Your own house as your real estate? That's not how to make money in real estate. We have commercial and residential real estate is where the money is. I really and truly don't need you to tell me how to increase my assets.

I have no idea what you're talking about.