The Consumer Sentiment Disconnect From Economic Reality
The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index just printed 44.8 in May. That’s the worst reading since the survey began in 1952. That print was lower than in 2008 and the 1980 inflation panic. It was also worse than the […]
The K-Shaped Economy: Why The Middle Class Moved Up.
The K-shaped economy has become shorthand for a tidy story. The rich pull away while everyone else falls behind. It fits the mood, and it makes for a sharp headline. The problem is that it's mostly wrong. When you pull the actual Census data, the dominant move of the last half-century isn't down.
Stronger Dollar Trade: The Most Unexpected Macro Bet (Part 2)
Wall Street has piled into the dollar debasement story; however, as is always the case, when everyone is on one side of the trade, the other side becomes more compelling. In Part 1, we explored why Dollar Dominance Remains Alive […]
Dollar Dominance Remains Alive And Well (Part 1)
The dollar is supposed to be dying. We’ve heard that argument for the better part of a decade, and it’s getting louder, not quieter. The narrative goes that BRICS countries are building an alternative, that China is dumping Treasuries, that […]
Rising Interest Rates: Why The Narrative Fails Against The Data
Last Friday closed with the 10-year Treasury yield at 4.60%, a one-year high, and the doom commentary about rising interest rates was waiting before the bell even rang. Hyperinflation. Bond market breakdown.
The Stagflation Narrative: What Doomers Get Wrong – Part II
The stagflation narrative dominating financial social media isn't completely wrong. That's what makes it so dangerous. After more than 30 years of managing client portfolios through actual inflationary cycles, not watching them on YouTube,
Commodity Supercycle: The Enemy Of The Bull Thesis (Part 1)
The commodity supercycle thesis is everywhere right now. Bank of America's Michael Hartnett, one of the most widely read strategists on Wall Street, recently declared "commodities the biggest trade of the next five years," anchoring the call on deglobalization, chronic capital underinvestment, and a world drifting away from dollar dominance.
A Robot Economy: Who Gets Rich, Who Gets Left Behind
Robots are coming to the economy. It is inevitable, really, and there is nothing that will stop it. At some point in the not-so-distant future, robots will infiltrate every aspect of our lives, from office work and manufacturing to service work and trade skills, and even your home. Here are some numbers for you.
Government Debt: Not What The Doom Crowd Thinks It Is
Every few years, someone discovers that the United States government owes a very large amount of dollars and concludes that Rome is about to fall. A recent piece in RealClearMarkets by Nash, Thomas, Lang, and Rastin does exactly this.