Minor Issues

In this week's episode, Mark reviews several ways to fight the Fed's price inflation. Adopting these strategies proactively can improve our lives economically and psychologically—and even improve our health. They can make your family less vulnerable and improve your self-confidence.

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In this week's episode, Mark analyzes the record high price of copper. He explains why Wall Street focuses on the price of copper and why this crucial economic indicator seems at odds with the weak global economy. This has serious implications for our economic future. Get a free copy of Mark's book, The Skyscraper Curse, for the rest of the story: Mises.org/Curse.

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Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? at Mises.org/Money.

In this week's episode, Mark looks at the current state of the commercial real estate market, especially the problematic refinancing requirement in an environment of lower prices and a declining tenant base. Combined with a higher interest rate, this market faces difficult financing over the next three years. This is another negative manifestation of the Fed's control over interest rates in our economy.

Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

Order a free paperback copy of Murray Rothbard’s What Has Government Done to Our Money? at Mises.org/Money.

In this episode, Mark Thornton discusses Consumer Confidence as a reliable indicator of the current economy. Individual components of the index are declining, but do not yet indicate a looming crisis or recession. Mark thinks that it does indicate, along with other economic statistics, of a clear worsening in the economy and his predictions for 2024.

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Get your free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization at Mises.org/IssuesFree.

In this week's episode, Mark examines the Chocolate Crisis of 2024.  Cocoa prices have skyrocketed. The media is trying to paint this as another example of the ravages of Climate Change, but the market is making all of its typical adjustments to ensure that chocolate products continue to flow to consumers, and also making adjustments to improve the long-term conditions.

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Get your free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization at Mises.org/IssuesFree.

In this week's episode, Mark takes another look at the Producer Price Index. As suggested in an episode from September 2023 (see Mises.org/MI_35), the PPI has indeed leveled off and is no longer "contributing" to the Federal Reserve's "Immaculate Disinflation." Mark points out that wholesale price increases are already in the long PPI "pipeline" and will likely make the Fed's announced plans fall apart.

PPI at Fred: Mises.org/MI_67A

PPI 2022: "The Producer Price Index" at Mises.org/MI_35

CPI: "Where’s the Beef?" at Mises.org/MI_36

"The Fed's Immaculate Disinflation" at Mises.org/MI_03

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Get your free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization at Mises.org/IssuesFree.

The inflation news from the Federal Reserve is once again disappointing. All the measures were up and higher than predicted by the experts. Mark recaps this news and compares his guesses about the economy to the forecasts of the Federal Reserve and Wall Street economists. Mark also reiterates his predictions about rate cuts and the economy. 

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Get your free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization at Mises.org/IssuesFree.

What happens when war shuts down the Strait of Hormuz? Mark looks at the economics and causes of a growing list of problems with the "chokepoints" of international trade: the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, and Baltimore harbor. Will these chokepoints become scapegoats for the Federal Reserve, and could war closing the Strait of Hormuz become a genuine world crisis?

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Get your free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization at Mises.org/IssuesFree.

In this week’s episode, Mark links the Global Climate change agenda to the old “Population Bomb” of the 1970s. He shows that climate alarmists are really de-populationists in environmentalist clothing—both of which run counter to science and promote personal, irrational agendas.

Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

Get your free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization at Mises.org/IssuesFree.

In this episode, Mark shares the latest video in the Mises Institute's The Costs of the Progressives series, "The Drug War," which cites Mark's research on the economics of prohibition.

"The Costs of the Progressives" is a historical series that focuses on great leaps in Washington's consolidation of power on a variety of issues that affect our day-to-day lives, and the costs we pay with our taxes and our liberty: Mises.org/Progressivism

Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

Get your free copy of Dr. Guido Hülsmann's How Inflation Destroys Civilization at Mises.org/IssuesFree.