While the measurement of inflation varies wildly depending on which economist you talk to, here we will examine the official figures published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): CPI or Consumer Price Index. The purpose of publishing CPI is to measure inflation and/or deflation, the decreased … [Read more...] about CPI Explained – Part 1 – Hedonics
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Bail yourself out with an Unlimited® 401k
With trillions of dollars going to bailing out failing corporations, who's going to save you? Take a look around... you'll probably have to save yourself. Rollover your IRA or 401k funds into an unrestricted account to open a world of possibilities without triggering any taxes. Here are some … [Read more...] about Bail yourself out with an Unlimited® 401k
Asset-based thinking in the real economy
I'm reposting some of my thoughts from a blog comment discussion from last week. I agree with the perspective that our currency should go back to being pegged to gold. This would force individuals, corporations, and governments to play by the same rules of economics. The side effect is that we … [Read more...] about Asset-based thinking in the real economy
How to vote against the bailout
Don't call or write your Senator or representative Don't sign any petitions online Don't join a consumer advocacy organization Our government is not one for the people anymore, and we must oppose the bailing out of failing, irresponsible, fraudulent corporations. Reasons to vote against the … [Read more...] about How to vote against the bailout
Lunch at the Fed
I recently attended a lunch discussion at the Fed building here in Denver hosted by the World Trade Center. The topic of discussion: The outlook for the U.S. Dollar. First, a Federal Reserve senior economist gave us an overview of what Fed is and how it works. Surprisingly, he was quite direct and … [Read more...] about Lunch at the Fed
What Causes Inflation? (You may be surprised) – Part 1
Some of the most prominent explanations of the cause of inflation can be extremely confusing and often end up leading the reader/inquirer to conclude "Ahh, it's just too complicated. We can't really put our finger on it, and there are many different factors." In this post, I aim to undo that … [Read more...] about What Causes Inflation? (You may be surprised) – Part 1
Trust Yourself
In a world where we see stories unfold such as: Enron WorldCom Tyco Subprime mortgage crisis Mutual fund mortgage overexposure and misreporting Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac accounting scandals Insolvency of Investment Bank Bear Stearns ...most Americans are running low on trust when it … [Read more...] about Trust Yourself