GDP Data: Don't Rule Out A 2019 Recession

Inflation Numbers: Something Does Not Add Up!

The government wants us to believe that the annualized increase in the cost of living in Q1 2019 was just 0.9%. Yet the price of oil rose by an annualized rate of over 130% during that quarter! Either the price of everything else plunged, or something doesn't add up!

Bond Market, Gold & The Federal Reserve

The bond market and gold are rising, as the US Dollar falls, because the supposed collapse in the inflation rate in Q1 despite a 130% annualized rise in the price of oil, gives the Federal Reserve yet another excuse to remain patient on future interest rate hikes.

Interest Rate Cuts, Return to QE

If oil prices keep rising, maybe inflation will fall so much that the dreaded deflation risk will rear its ugly head. Then Trump may get his wish, as the Federal Reserve will have an excuse to cut interest rates and return to QE!

Don't Rule Out A 2019 Recession  

The near 17% drop in Q1 energy prices, despite a 33% surge in oil prices, resulted from the sharp fall in oil prices the previous quarter. This, plus one-off positive contributions from inventories and trade, will likely be reversed in Q2. Don't rule out a 2019 recession.

India Is Buying Gold

India has joined countries like Russia and China buying gold in an attempt to diversify reserves away from the US Dollar:

"The Reserve Bank of India has jumped on the gold bandwagon. Since December 2017, the Indian central bank has added 50.4 tons of gold to its reserves. India bought 8.2 tons of gold in January and February of this year and analysts project that pace to pick up. India’s gold reserves currently stand at a record high of almost 609 tons, according to data from the IMF."

Related trading tickers: SPDR Gold Trust ETF (GLD), Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX), Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ)

Russia Continues Buying Gold

The Russians bought more gold last month as they continue to try to minimize exposure to the US Dollar.

"The Central Bank of Russia added another 18.7 tons of gold to its stash in March according to a press release last week. This boosts the country’s gold reserves to 2, 167.9 tons or 69,700,000 ounces. Gold now makes up about 18% of the Russian central bank’s reserves."
- in Schiff Gold

“Vladimir Putin’s quest to break Russia’s reliance on the US dollar has set off a literal gold rush.” 
- in Bloomberg

Related trading instruments: SPDR Gold Trust ETF (GLD), Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX), Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ)