Kerry Lutz's--Financial Survival Network

Our old friend Jeff Clark joined us today for a close look at the precious metals markets. Jeff, formerly of Casey Research, is now with GoldSilver.com, a place that suits him quite well. While the more things change, the more they stay the same, this time really is different. The political system has no ability to address and solve the current economic problems. In fact, the system is trying to do the opposite, by denying their existence and refusing to deal with existential issues. If that's not a reason to own gold and/or silver, then you need to rethink everything now. 

Michael Eastham is concerned that Consumer spending inched up just 0.1% in June
Americans increased spending in June by the smallest amount in five months, partly because it cost less to fill up at the gas pump.

Consumer spending rose 0.1% in June, matching the smallest increase of 2017, the government said Tuesday. That was in line with the Marketwatch forecast of economists.
Income growth and inflation, meanwhile, were unchanged.

Despite a stable economy and the best labor market in years, Americans remain cautious spenders. Still, they are spending more than enough to sustain an economy now in its ninth year of expansion and encourage businesses to hire more workers.

Households spent more on health care in June, but they saved on gasoline because of cheaper prices at the pump.

Lower inflation is giving Americans some extra cushion.

The PCE index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, was flat in June. What’s more, the 12-month rate of inflation stood at 1.4%, down from 2.2% earlier in the year.

Inflation had surged in 2016 and early 2017 to an eight-and-a-half year before leveling off. Slower inflation has prompted the Federal Reserve to reconsider when it next raises interest rates.

Most analysts believe the central bank will wait until December.

U.S. futures markets pointed to a higher opening for the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.28%

Ivan Eland joined us today to talk about the latest North Korea developments. Seems like there's always trouble in this workers' paradise and the US just doesn't know how to handle it. Ivan thinks that Trump is just doing more of the same as did Obama, Bush and Clinton before him. Will the recent stiffened UN sanctions be enough to make a difference? How mad is Kim Jong Un really? All good questions for which we have no answers. 

A little more than a decade Keith Weinhold started his real estate empire. He bought a quad and lived in one of the units for three years. He kept buying and buying. There's many benefits to real estate investing, cash flow, tax reduction/deferment, 3rd party debt pay down, inflation hedging and of course the possibility of appreciation. These factors literally turbo-charge your returns and its why Ken keeps buying properties. In hind sight, Ken believes he didn't take one risk minimizing step, geographical diversification. Don't keep all your eggs in one basket.