Two markers of the job market clocked in today, and it looks like the Fed will be continuing their easy-money policies for a little while longer. The employment report calculated by Automatic Data Processing Inc. and Moody’s Analytics found that private-sector U.S. jobs increased by 188,000 in June, as reported by the Wall Street Journal….
Inflation Update – Beware of Misleading Government Statistics
Inflation is another one of those alarming, yet distinctly vague terms you’ve heard thrown around a lot in the last few years. Concerns about “rising prices” and the value of the U.S. dollar after all is what drove many of us to invest in gold and silver coins in the first place. Although “inflation” is…
The Bernanke Effect
Following the release of the economic forecast by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) yesterday, U.S. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s taper talk sent stocks and commodities tumbling. Maybe tumbling isn’t the right word… Collapsing to near three-year lows, gold has dipped below $1,300 for the first time since the fall of 2010. Prior to the…
The Wealth Effect: Fact or Fiction?
Do consumers tend to spend more money when they have perceived notions of increased wealth? This developing theory has been defined by economists as “the wealth effect,” which is the simple notion that when consumers have more money, they spend more money. Economists, including Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, claim that higher stock and home…
The Origins of Money: A Brief History
Unless you’re independently wealthy, thinking of money means thinking of mortgage payments and utility bills, filling up the gas tank and buying groceries, even saving for your children’s education. Money can keep you awake at night! Yet when it comes to the origins of money, we rarely give it a moment’s thought. One of our…
A One-Minute History of the Federal Reserve
Anyone who monitors financial markets or precious metals has heard of the Federal Reserve. While the Federal Reserve has received considerable attention in recent years — due to financial crises and a feeble economy — few know the details of its history. Until now. Our latest Knowledge Center article, A Brief History of the Federal…
