Bread & Circus News

Tag: economy

  • Expert: Cut all your extra expenses NOW and brace for downturn…

    A financial expert I know, who has called every recession without fail, has always been ahead of the technology curve, and always been a reliable confidant to tell me what the economy is doing and where it’s going next, says people should cut all their extra expenses and brace for recession or even depression NOW.

    In a recent conversation, he confirmed what I have been saying about Trump’s insane tariffism all along: it’s a recipe for complete economic failure. He explained that America has totally thrived under global trade, prices have remained somewhat affordable, and small businesses have been able to compete due to low import prices, but all of that is gone now.

    He said the consequences of Trump’s tariffism are not fully seen yet because companies stocked up on inventory when Trump first announced tariffs, but as soon as that inventory is gone, product supply is going to be greatly reduced, and prices will soar. Worse, even if the tariffs are relaxed, it will take months, potentially even years, to restart the supply chain.

    While I don’t have the same deep economic experience my friend has, all of my own independent research and analysis have yielded the same prediction. it’s actually common sense because there’s no way that corporations can absorb $300 billion a year in tariff losses and still remain afloat without massive negative impacts to their business model and the overall economy.

    Trump and his team would have us believe that global trade is a horrible thing, and “globalists” are the enemies of America. But that’s not true. Global trade has been a wonderful thing for America for decades. The horrible thing is greed on the part of billionaires around the globe who are fleecing the vast majority of the people for their own selfish gain and enrichment, and that includes Trump and his friends at the very top of the food chain in America.

    Some people will claim this view is anti-American, but it is not. The greatness of America is in its diversity. Diversity of thought, diversity of people, and diversity of products which have led to incredible product choice and product innovation. Without global competition, American product innovation would be nothing. Even the muscle cars of the earlier years were in constant competition with their counterpart over overseas to make the fastest and best car.

    All that withstanding, hard times are coming because Trump is completely dismantling global trade and in the process dismantling all the companies that are reliant on it, including Ford, which just reported they will lose $2.5 billion in tariff fees this year alone. As much as they would love to make everything in America, it’s not entirely economically feasible, and forcing them to is the stuff of tyranny.

    Whatever happened to free trade? Whatever happened to the free market? Aren’t libertarian republican types supposed to protect these values rather than tear them down? The answer is yes. The problem is we don’t have libertarian Republican types in Office. We have economic totalitarians in office. And all of us are going to pay severely for it.

    So now is the time to cut all your extra expenses, start saving your money, embrace for economic impact, because it’s coming, whether we like it or not.

    Then again a lot of people are already doing just that. Vegas reports almost 15% decline and tourism. American tourism is down 15%. Theme park tickets are down 15% or more. Entertainment venues are down 15% or more. Luxury and convenience item purchases are drastically decreasing. clearly people are already pennypinching and getting ready for a huge downturn. Word to the wise.

  • Latest jobs report is all bad news for Americans and the “golden age” narrative…

    Latest jobs report is all bad news for Americans and the “golden age” narrative…

    The July jobs report was just released, and it flies in the face of Trump’s nonstop “America is the hottest economy in the world!” bantering. Employers added only 73,000 jobs, and worse, the job reports from the previous two months were revised to show radically lower hiring than previously reported.

    The government previously reported that 147,000 jobs were added in May and 125,000 jobs were added in June. They have now revised those numbers to 14,000 and 17,000 respectively. This is unheard of. Had they reported accurately two months ago, the stock market would be in shambles right now. One has to wonder if there was some sort of cover-up to bolster the “liberation day“ narrative.

    But wait. Isn’t an addition of 73,000 jobs in July good news? Not really. Of the 73,000 jobs that were added, the vast majority of them are in sick care, hospice care, home pallative care, and social work, signaling once again that Americans are sick and getting sicker all the time—and those who are awake know why. (psst it starts with a V)

    If all this wasn’t bad enough, 264,000 workers left the workforce in July unemployment rose to 4.2%. That is a whole lot of people out of work suddenly. Of course, this will have a massive impact on the economy.

    More from CNBC:

    “The household survey, which is used to compile the unemployment rate, was even worse than the establishment survey of total payrolls gains. That showed a decline of 260,000 workers, with the participation rate edging down to 62.2%, the lowest since November 2022.

    A more encompassing unemployment indicator that includes discouraged workers and those holding part-time positions for economic reasons rose to 7.9%, its highest since March.

    In addition, long-term unemployment heated up. Average weeks unemployed jumped to 24.1, the highest level since April 2022, while the level of those out of work for more than 27 weeks to 1.82 million, the most since December 2021.

    The report comes with questions rising about firms’ willingness to hire in the face of ongoing trade negotiations and escalating tariffs.”

    That last paragraph is important. We have been saying all along companies will pull back hiring due to the $150 billion they have had to pay in Trump tariffs. We guaranteed this would happen. It will continue to happen, as will shrinkflation and deterioration of product quality across-the-board.

    The government keeps telling us that we have entered a “golden age” and America is the “hottest place in the world,” yet most economic indicators, and more importantly real life experience, screams the exact opposite. Trump inherited a pretty good economy that would have improved more with just some gentle tweaks. Instead, he took a baseball bat to it, and we are now paying the price.

    One thing is for sure, you can’t judge the economy based on how the stock market is doing. The stock market is being held up by energy stocks, AI tech stocks, healthcare stocks, none of which actually benefit the American people, product prices, and our way of life. Stay tuned to this station for the truth. We will tell you what’s really going on— as well your pocket book. As always, don’t believe the hype. 

  • Don’t believe the hype, this ain’t a “golden age” for most people…

    Don’t believe the hype, this ain’t a “golden age” for most people…

    Despite upbeat official rhetoric, many Americans are struggling in deeply concerning ways. According to Experian, total consumer debt reached $17.57 trillion in Q3 2024—even though its year‑over‑year growth slowed to 2.4%, credit card and auto debt remain firmly on the rise. Mortgage balances alone stood at $12.8 trillion by March 2025, growing by nearly $200 billion in just one quarter.

    Mortgages: Upside‑Down and Underwater

    While mortgage debt comprises a large share of liability, the housing market shows alarming softness: home prices in major metros have declined for three consecutive months, pending sales dropped, and listings surged—suggesting demand is faltering Business Insider. Many homeowners who bought at peak prices now owe more than their homes are worth, especially if they financed with minimal down payment or took on long‐term loans.

    Auto Loans: A Crisis of Negative Equity

    Even more dire is the car‑loan situation. In Q2 2025, 26.6% of trade‑ins were underwater, meaning borrowers owed more than their car’s market value—an average negative equity of about $6,754. Record‑high monthly payments (often nearing $1,000) compound the burden. Auto loan delinquencies have risen across nearly all credit tiers, as younger or lower‑income buyers face worsening conditions.

    Consumer Credit: Maxed-Out Spending Limits

    Credit card debt surged to an inflation‑adjusted average over $10,000 per household, the first time since 2009. Rising delinquencies—spanning even high-income earners—signal widespread financial strain.

    Combined, auto, credit card, mortgage, and other installment debts signal a sizable portion of the population caught in cycles of compounding interest, negative equity, and shrinking savings pools.

    Contrasting Indicators: What the Headlines Hide

    Economists have pointed out that even with reported 3% GDP growth in Q2 2025, much of the gain stems from volatile factors like trade stockpiling—not durable consumer strength. Consumer spending grew just 1.4% over the first half of the year, down from previous levels, and business investment is weakening amid policy unpredictability.

    Consumer confidence, while inching up slightly in July to 97.2, remains volatile under the shadow of tariffs, inflation, and outbreaks of pessimism—even among wealthier households.

    Economic Policy and Growing Risks

    President Trump has touted a “golden age” of economic revitalization, promising lower prices and renewed strength. But critics argue that recent legislation—such as the “Big Beautiful Bill”—transfers wealth upward, cuts safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP, and accelerates government borrowing, piling on deficits that could reach $36–40 trillion by year’s end 

    MoneyWeek has warned that current fiscal policies risk destabilizing the entire financial system, drawing dangerous parallels to Japan’s long‑running debt crisis. Meanwhile, analysts note the risk of stagflation, with inflation persisting even as growth stagnates—under conditions created by aggressive tariffs and credit dependency.

    A Dark Age Looms for Consumers

    To many ordinary Americans, the “golden age” looks more like a financial dark age. Families report skipping meals, draining savings, turning to high–interest credit options, and borrowing just to cover basics like rent and groceries. Over half of older Americans say debt has held them back—many fear they may never pay it off or retire in peace.

    Despite optimistic macro‑reports, the average consumer faces mounting pressure: negative equity in autos, underwater mortgages, escalating credit card balances, and fading buying power. Unless underlying vulnerabilities—such as household over-indebtedness and unstable fiscal policy—are addressed, the American dream may slip further from reach for much of the population.

    Despite the upbeat messaging from the White House, the stress endured by millions of Americans paints a far murkier picture. Without structural relief, broader safety nets, or a cooling of debt burdens, the promise of prosperity rings hollow for those living at the edge of financial ruin.

  • Just in: your dollar does not go as far as it did this time last year…

    Despite the nonstop flood of “golden age” economic optimism pouring out of the White House 24/7, in the real world the prices of everything continue to rise with no end in sight (which, by the way, is the reason the federal reserve will not lower the interest rate any further).

    Today the Federal Reserve is reporting that the PCE index, which measures consumer expenses and buying behavior, rose again this June by almost a half a percentage point. At present it is 2.6% higher than it was this time last year. This means inflation is not stopping in consumers are going further into debt to stay afloat.

    Then again, who needs economic indicators from the Federal Reserve statistics? Just go to your local grocery store and see for yourself. Better yet, go to Home Depot, like I just did, and buy some house paint, and prepare to have your jaw hit the floor when it rings up $47.99 a gallon As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

    Not fun fact: unless you received at least a 3% raise this year, you are indeed getting poorer, while the rich are indeed getting richer. That is the trend, and evidently most people agree…

  • Americans will now pay 15% more for Korean products like Samsung due to Trump’s new “winning” deal

    Where to even start with this. America had a $66 billion trade deficit with So Korea. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this. It’s mostly just the outcome of supply and demand: Americans demand South Korean products more than South Koreans demand American products. But Trump has been depicting trade deficits as proof that countries are ripping off Americans so he can get better import/export “deals“ and “investments“ from these countries.

    In the latest round of tariff wars, Trump claims South Korea will allow American exports to be duty-free, while South Korean imports will cost American companies and consumers 15% more than we have been paying. Trump calls this “winning.” He also says South Korea has agreed to invest billions of dollars in American infrastructure. What infrastructure? Energy infrastructure, for AI data centers. he also calls this “winning.”

    To be sure, it is in fact “winning,” but only for the technocracy and oligarchy. There will be no winning for the American people, whose jobs will be systematically deleted as more and more of these foreign funded AI data centers come into existence across America and the prices on products keep going up while the quality of products keeps tanking.

  • GDP grew 3% in Q2 but beware: all that glitters isn’t gold…

    Trump is ecstatic that gross domestic product grew 3% last quarter, but we believe it’s a false positive for the majority of everyday people for multiple reasons that he and his marketing machine are not sharing. Here is a breakdown of what is included in the GDP and why the numbers aren’t what they appear to be:

    Consumer Spending: Things people buy for personal use — food, clothing, rent, medical care, entertainment, etc.

    Yes, people spent more money last quarter but only because of ongoing inflation, rent increases, medical bills, and other expenditures, many of which were put on credit cards, since consumer debt also increased last quarter.

    Business Investment: Money businesses spend on equipment, buildings, software, inventory, etc.

    It’s true that business investments are off the charts under Trump, but the vast majority are related to massive AI, data infrastructure, and energy projects to develop technologies that will actually be replacing human jobs and driving hundreds of thousands of companies out of business.

    As a matter of fact, the companies performing the very best on Wall Street are energy, technology, and industrialization: three things that will actually deteriorate our quality of life, not improve it.

    Furthermore, when Trump announced tariffs, companies imported double the goods they usually do out of fear. Once that inventory dries up, they will have to import at higher prices, and those prices will no doubt be passed on to all of us.

    And finally, American companies have LOST $150 billion paying Trump tariffs. Many people mistakenly believe that foreign countries pay tariffs, but that is not true. American companies pay the tariffs. They of course cannot absorb these costs and will pass them all on to us. They are right now shrinking their product sizes, laying off workers, downsizing, and making other moves to survive and recoup their tariff losses, which are only going to pile higher and higher.

    Government Spending:
    Salaries of government workers, defense, infrastructure, public services.

    Government spending is rarely a good thing, and under Trump, government spending is off the charts, despite alleged government downsizing due to the efforts of “doge.”

    Here’s a disturbing statistic: The Treasury Department just stated that federal spending from January through June 2025 reached approximately $3.6 trillion, which is $142 billion more than the same period in 2024. Trump is on track to outspend Biden, and he’s just getting warmed up.

    Bottom line: short term 3% domestic product increase seems like good news, but when you really dig into it, you find it’s not really good news at all, at least for the vast majority of we the people peasant class.

    One more thing, the real barometer of the economy is still falling..

    MJ

  • FOX NEWS falsely reports tariffs are collected from “foreign countries“

    I had to do a double take when I saw a Fox News post on Facebook claiming that the staggering $150 BILLION in tariffs that Trump has collected through Customs have been paid by “foreign countries.“

    It’s hard to fathom how a full-blown “news agency“ could make such a colossal misinformation error. They leave us no other choice but to think they are either willfully blind or they are complicit in deceiving people into thinking that America is “winning” the trade war when in fact, American companies are paying the tariff taxes, all of which are being passed on to us consumers through various methods such as shrinkflation, closures, layoffs, price increases, etc.

    Just today Reuters reported “American companies have decided how they’re going to respond to Trump’s tariffs: price increases.” Read it for yourself via the link below. Get informed. Double and triple check everything media is feeding you, because a lot of it is highly misleading, deceptive, and even fraudulent.

    Shockingly, thousands of people responded to the Fox News article congratulating President Trump for “winning” by taking so much money from foreign countries — evidently completely unaware that the money is ultimately going to be taken from them one companies recoup all of their costs, which they are right now in the process of doing.

    More: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-gets-tariffs-americans-get-price-hikes-2025-07-29/