The Loadstar reports on an unforeseen side effect of the current supply chain crunch. The combination of congestion at US west coast ports and low interest rates is allowing US importers to use containerships as ‘offshore warehouses’, mitigating logistics costs. According to freight visibility company project44, transit times from China to Los Angeles have… Continue reading When ships at sea become cheaper storage than warehouses
Tag: Economics
Saturday Snippet: Weimar hyperinflation – its tipping point, and its consequences
Last year I published a Saturday Snippet from Adam Fergusson’s excellent book “When Money Dies: The Nightmare of Deficit Spending, Devaluation, and Hyperinflation in Weimar Germany“. It’s an excellent book, and I highly recommend it to your attention. Given the very real threat of hyperinflation in the USA, as discussed yesterday in these pages,… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: Weimar hyperinflation – its tipping point, and its consequences
“Since January 2020, the United States has printed nearly 80% of all US dollars in existence.” Be afraid. Be very afraid.
If this report doesn’t scare the hell out of you, you sure as heck don’t understand the economic disaster now staring us in the face. Since March of 2020, Americans and the world alike have watched from the sidelines as power hungry politicians have ushered in draconian lockdowns, shutdowns, police state measures, and brought… Continue reading “Since January 2020, the United States has printed nearly 80% of all US dollars in existence.” Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Follow the gold, follow the food – they tell the same story
Two interesting developments tell the same story in a nutshell, for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. The first is the growing move towards gold by national reserve banks, rather than continue to put their trust in the US dollar. Central banks around the world are increasing the gold they hold… Continue reading Follow the gold, follow the food – they tell the same story
The best explanation of the supply chain problem I’ve ever read
Jim Rickards has done us all a great favor by explaining the supply chain crunch in a way that anyone can understand, putting it in clear, unambiguous terms that can’t be misunderstood. Here’s an excerpt. What’s at the root of the supply chain breakdown? That’s a critical question but the answer is almost irrelevant.… Continue reading The best explanation of the supply chain problem I’ve ever read
Food: higher prices, more shortages – and it’s not just inflation
Last month I published an article titled “Remember those warnings about the food supply?” In it, I noted: The fertilizer market is currently incapable of supplying enough product to meet demand – and that may affect next season’s harvest quite appreciably, not just in the USA, but worldwide. Now the Wall Street Journal warns… Continue reading Food: higher prices, more shortages – and it’s not just inflation
China and its conflict with the USA – war by non-military means (so far)
John Wilder, he of the esteemed analyses and execrable puns (not that I’m jealous of them, or anything like that!) notes: The Chinese have been thinking for a very long time about war with the United States. To be sure, I’m willing to bet some very, very smart people in the United States have… Continue reading China and its conflict with the USA – war by non-military means (so far)
The supply chain crunch finds new victims
It looks like the supply chain crunch isn’t about to ease up, despite positive comments from a number of sources. The latest sector to take a hit is the transport industry – the very people who have to move supplies through the chain from origin to destination. Supply headwinds facing the trucking industry were… Continue reading The supply chain crunch finds new victims
Inflation: the bad and the ugly (there is no good)
Well, I guess we’d better take another look at inflation. I’m not talking about what the talking heads in government and the big banks say: most of them are lying through their teeth, and unworthy of attention. They largely created the mess we’re in, and they’re feverishly doubling down on past mistakes and making… Continue reading Inflation: the bad and the ugly (there is no good)
Another factor in food production: giant corporate control
I’ve been reading extensively about factors affecting the food supply pipeline in particular, ever since this became an issue during the COVID-19 pandemic. I came across a very interesting article from 2011, examining the meat-packing industry and the problems it’s causing for ranchers and farmers. It’s ten years old, but from what I’ve been… Continue reading Another factor in food production: giant corporate control