Article – Inflation speeds up in April as consumer prices leap 4.2%, fastest since 2008

“I think I have cancer…”
“I think I left the stove on…”
“We’re not gonna make it….”
There are some times I really don’t want to be right. But..here we are:

Inflation in April accelerated at its fastest pace in more than 12 years as the U.S. economic recovery kicked into gear and energy prices jumped higher, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

Really? Thats what kicked off inflation? A ‘recovery’? You sure it wasn’t .gov promising to spend and tax more money than actually physically exists?

Look, I’m not an economist. I’ve got some finance classes under my belt and thats about it. But I look further downstream than most when  it comes to downstream consequences. Perhaps my caveman-like understanding of economics is far too primitive to grasp the nuances of what the Biden people are doing. Perhaps my understanding of what does and does not cause economic problems is lacking. Perhaps…perhaps…

But…here’s what I see.. prices on virtually everything are going up. People are very concerned about the economy doing poorly and, regardless of whether the economy actually is doing poorly, that sort of sentiment has a way of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Me? I’m keeping outta debt. I’m not spending money on vacations, jet skis, $700 living room chairs, new iPhones, or some I-deserve-this feelgood trinket. I’m saving money, buying metals, investing, keeping the pantry full, and being fiscally conservative…very conservative. Worst case scenario? I missed out on a Disney cruise or a sale on Samsung televisions. Boohoo. I can always spend it next year. And if we get into a Carter Redux economic situation I will look like the smartest person in the room.

Do what you will, man. You do you, and I’ll do me. As for me and my house, we will serve…our best financial interests.

15 thoughts on “Article – Inflation speeds up in April as consumer prices leap 4.2%, fastest since 2008

  1. “Fastest inflation in 12 years”.

    Hmmmm…..can’t remember what happened 12 years ago…..
    Who was it that just came into office?……..a little help?

  2. I don’t think this has to be an Either – I think it could be a Both.
    The increase in the money supply normally means that more dollars are chasing the same amount of goods.
    In this case, with factory shutdowns/ slowdowns and shipping/ border issues and closures, there is more money chasing fewer than “normal” amount of goods and as these shutdowns/ slowdowns/ issues start to get resolved, supply doesn’t meet demand for some goods in some places (and possibly all goods, somewhere). Of course, a shutdown in the Suez Canal didn’t help…

    I think that SOME of the price increases we are seeing are temporary, and SOME of them are permanent/ long term – which are which is the million dollar question!
    The safest course of action is as you suggested – plan for all prices increases to be permanent, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised when some aren’t.

  3. Aesop’s tale of Ants vs Grasshoppers BUT with “Social Justice” and “Reparation’s” MOAR Like the fall of Rome with Wi-Fi and Accelerated by Social Media driven mobs. Oprah will have Kermit the Frog singing “It’s not easy being green” to force the EVIL HORDING Profiteering Ants to Give up our Fair Share….

    Bad (Fake) Money, plus BAD even destructive to society’s mutual agreements FORCED Ideas like (Breast Feeding People, 53+ sexual perversions and such crap) is punching big holes into the SS Republic of the USA.

    Got your OWN Lifeboat? Expect Gov.com to force you to share it and most likely Throw you out of your own lifeboat IF they figure out you HAVE one.

    Disinformation is a useful shield against thieving Gov (but I repeat myself). They cannot take what they do not know about. Even now in Italy and many other places a rich mans house looks in poor repair from the Outside, the gold faucets are hidden Inside those poor looking walls.

    Caches can give you a second lifeboat if your still alive from the “throw the Evil Capitalist Out” crowd (aka Mob). Just saying, is your life worth less than your stuff? Just have more stuff better hidden and keep yer yapper SHUT about it.

    Safe deposit boxes what an Oxymoron. Not in your hands Not Yours.

  4. Sage advice…

    Gels with what I am seeing here in NC too..

    We have freed ourselves of a house payment, and two car payments, no other debt to speak of, other than my self employed business debt that i run up, then pay down.

    We have commodities, food preps, and other stashed/stored items of importance too.

    It is a very secure and comforting feeling knowing we can weather most major events.

    Keep up the good work.

  5. I think I’ll start a business. It will be called “Reserved For” and the main product will be a brass plate that says “This light pole (or tree, bridge, etc.) is reserved for (insert name of your favorite politician). If you must use this spot, be kind and leave room for more.” This could be a third political party that doesn’t do anything but hang around.

  6. Correct. These are what preppers prep for and allows them to have a graduate degree in survivalism. A small tactical technique I can share and have enjoyed being employed in many a personal tribulation is having a paid-up (surplus) account balance on my house utilities services. Electric, natural gas, city water. (Paid extra for years, built a surplus, they never mind and carry it over thus on billing) These are certainly necessary constants that will be nice to really have “on” irregardless of the outside perimeter events. Being debt free and sitting on “muh guns” is cool, but having a years worth of surplus carry over balance on utilities is really better than cash in a bank with miniscule interest or getting moldy in the mattress. You, or after you are quite dead and cold, your significant others would enjoy keeping the lights, water, and gas on for a long stretch while funds are certainly needed elsewhere. Just a “technique” that can help folks in a certain to occur stretch later on.

    Stay frosty.

  7. And Bitcoin has dropped almost 10,000 dollars in one day on the word that Tesla will no longer accept Bitcoin. Also, once central banks introduce crypto-currency, then Bitcoin along with all private crypto will be dead!!!
    Land, gold, silver and other hard assets will get you through this!!

  8. Jeebus Crispies.

    I have just hit Bayou Renaissance Man, Silicon Graybeard, and now you, all on the same topic.
    And the same president.

    “Theahs ah malaise in this contreh, so ah propose to make guvamint biggah…”

    All I need to see now is Gropey Dopey tromping through a nuclear accident in rubber booties, and real life will look just like Disney remaking the George Lucas sci-fi trilogy, only worse, sloppier, and even lazier.

    If a two-mile wide meteor would just make earthfall on D.C. tomorrow, the prayers of millions would be answered.

  9. After a bout of severe financial trauma in the early 2000’s, I got my act together and cleared my debts and stayed cleared. Today I have been debt free for almost 15 years. I have metals, investments and cash plus supplies. I’m not as well set up as some but better than most. I think my debt troubles actually taught me about money and the value of true money management. Before that I balanced my check book by reaching “0” each month! TTFN

  10. One thing I have learned in this mess; Under stress, the chocolate requirement is almost one half lb, per person, per day. and canned peanuts help.

  11. Paranoid:
    Be careful with the Nuts –
    After all, you are what you eat!

    All the best….

  12. The definition of inflation/deflation is an increase or decrease in the available monetary supply. In a nutshell, the Federal Reserve issues Treasury bonds as required to cover the deficit spending the government is doing and sells them, to cover the money being spent by Congress. Deficit spending = inflation, and they have been doing it at warp speed since the beginning of the pandemic. There’s your inflation, and it ain’t going away anytime soon. Look at the US Dollar index — https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/future/us%20dollar%20index%20futures — and the inflection beginning last Spring when all this started. That’s how much your dollars are worth, and how they are losing value.

  13. Amen. Get what you think you’ll need, put off the luxuries til later. Having lived through the 70s & 80s, I can say inflation sucks, and ending it sucks, too. And if things end up not being as bad as they seem to be looking, you’re way ahead of the game. But I guess that’s not the American way.

Comments are closed.