Prime foreclosures surge by Chris Martenson Wow, with three exclamation points. The fact that PRIME foreclosures have now moved past SUBPRIME foreclosures is a big deal. In case you don’t know, the Hope Now program is a government-sponsored affair that was initiated very early on in the housing/credit bust. Its intent was to help borrowers avoid foreclosure by renegotiating the terms of their deal(s). Prime foreclosures surge by Chris Martenson Wow, with three exclamation points. The fact that PRIME foreclosures have now moved past SUBPRIME foreclosures is a big deal. In case you don’t know, the Hope Now program is a government-sponsored affair that was initiated very early on in the housing/credit bust. Its intent was to help borrowers avoid foreclosure by renegotiating the terms of their deal(s).
Russia threatens to cut off fuel to Europe by Chris Martenson In the US, the most important bit of news is the selection of a VP running mate for McCain. In Europe, it happens to be that you might freeze solid this winter. Russia threatens to cut off fuel to Europe by Chris Martenson In the US, the most important bit of news is the selection of a VP running mate for McCain. In Europe, it happens to be that you might freeze solid this winter.
Fuzzier than ever – GDP reported to be 3.3% by Chris Martenson A truly laughably fraudulent GDP report was released by the government today. However, we’re getting close to this just being a sad parody of Soviet crop reports of old, which were famous for being utterly out of alignment with reality. Fuzzier than ever – GDP reported to be 3.3% by Chris Martenson A truly laughably fraudulent GDP report was released by the government today. However, we’re getting close to this just being a sad parody of Soviet crop reports of old, which were famous for being utterly out of alignment with reality.
Record bank debt coming due by Chris Martenson And here’s the data I’ve been waiting for. To the exhaustive pile of new borrowing that the US government needs to shoulder, we can add $871 billion of debt that financial firms will need to somehow fund at the exact same time. I will be more than a little surprised if this does not result in either drastically higher interest rates, or massive inflation. Record bank debt coming due by Chris Martenson And here’s the data I’ve been waiting for. To the exhaustive pile of new borrowing that the US government needs to shoulder, we can add $871 billion of debt that financial firms will need to somehow fund at the exact same time. I will be more than a little surprised if this does not result in either drastically higher interest rates, or massive inflation.
Problem banks expand 30% by Chris Martenson It’s worth noting that not every bank on the problem list will fail, and not every failure will be on the list. To my knowledge, IndyMac was not on the list prior to failing. But the trend here tells us something meaningful; a 30% increase in problem banks in one quarter says we’re still in the early stages of this credit crisis. Problem banks expand 30% by Chris Martenson It’s worth noting that not every bank on the problem list will fail, and not every failure will be on the list. To my knowledge, IndyMac was not on the list prior to failing. But the trend here tells us something meaningful; a 30% increase in problem banks in one quarter says we’re still in the early stages of this credit crisis.
Home prices drop by Chris Martenson We’ve had damaging housing busts in the past, but they’ve always been contained to a specific region. Houston in the 1980’s and Florida in the 1920’s taught us that even a localized housing bust could spread ripples of discomfort far beyond their borders. This data showing that NO cities in the index saw a price gain deserves some notice. Home prices drop by Chris Martenson We’ve had damaging housing busts in the past, but they’ve always been contained to a specific region. Houston in the 1980’s and Florida in the 1920’s taught us that even a localized housing bust could spread ripples of discomfort far beyond their borders. This data showing that NO cities in the index saw a price gain deserves some notice.
Big three ask for bailout by Chris Martenson I know they’ve wrapped it in other language such as “retool to make more fuel efficient vehicles,” but the truth is that any money they receive will disappear into the black holes that reside at the center of each company. Besides the fact that they really should not have been caught unawares again, I think that GM, Ford, and Chrysler should provide clear plans for how they intend to return to profitability using taxpayer money. Big three ask for bailout by Chris Martenson I know they’ve wrapped it in other language such as “retool to make more fuel efficient vehicles,” but the truth is that any money they receive will disappear into the black holes that reside at the center of each company. Besides the fact that they really should not have been caught unawares again, I think that GM, Ford, and Chrysler should provide clear plans for how they intend to return to profitability using taxpayer money.
Home prices still not low enough to trigger real demand; more weakness ahead by Chris Martenson Even at this late stage, we still get these same tired articles, where the NAR churns out some statistics showing improving sales and the media tirelessly trumpets the results. As always, the fact is left out that bank repossessions and foreclosure auctions count in these results. Home prices still not low enough to trigger real demand; more weakness ahead by Chris Martenson Even at this late stage, we still get these same tired articles, where the NAR churns out some statistics showing improving sales and the media tirelessly trumpets the results. As always, the fact is left out that bank repossessions and foreclosure auctions count in these results.
Repo Man calls by Chris Martenson Even as the government stubbornly clings to the illusion that we are not yet in a recession (“Look! GDP is still positive and inflation is only 1%!), the anecdotes from the real world tell a very different story. By the time people are coughing up $300k boats and motor homes in “record amounts,” we are deep into recession territory. Repo Man calls by Chris Martenson Even as the government stubbornly clings to the illusion that we are not yet in a recession (“Look! GDP is still positive and inflation is only 1%!), the anecdotes from the real world tell a very different story. By the time people are coughing up $300k boats and motor homes in “record amounts,” we are deep into recession territory.
Dead Banks Walking by Chris Martenson This is your “must read” article of the day. Bennet Sedacca has become one of my very favorite writers on this unfolding credit mess. In this article, he details the process by which denial and then deception are used, how they can be spotted, and which companies are pretty much cooked. Dead Banks Walking by Chris Martenson This is your “must read” article of the day. Bennet Sedacca has become one of my very favorite writers on this unfolding credit mess. In this article, he details the process by which denial and then deception are used, how they can be spotted, and which companies are pretty much cooked.