by Martin D Weiss
The forces of deflation are temporarily receding; and in the meantime, the forces of inflation threaten to roar back with a vengeance.
They are everywhere. They could be overwhelming. They must NOT be ignored …
Inflationary Force #1 Never-Ending, Out-of-Control U.S. Federal Deficits
Through August, the federal deficit hit $1.38 trillion, or three times last year’s all-time record deficit of $454.8 billion. And in September alone, the administration expects another $200 billion in red ink, bringing the total for the year to $1.58 trillion.
The U.S. government’s official debt is now at an all-time high of $11.8 trillion, or over $100,000 for each and every household in America.
Both the administration and its opponents agree that, over the next 10 years, the cumulative federal deficit will be another $9 trillion, driving the burden per household up to $177,000.
The Federal Reserve is also in hock up to its eyeballs, with more than $2 trillion in liabilities on its balance sheet. That brings the total burden up to $194,000 per household.
Perhaps worst of all, the government’s unfunded obligations for Social Security, Medicare, and Federal pension payments are also ballooning higher and now stand at an estimated $104 trillion, or $886,000 per household.
Total burden per household: More than $1 million!
This is, by far, the largest federal deficit in U.S. history — in proportion to household income … in comparison to the nation’s population … or even as a percent of the total economy (other than during major World Wars).
It drives the Fed to print money without restraint. It pumps up demand for scarce goods. And in the months ahead, it’s bound to be the single most powerful pressure point on public policy, financial markets, the U.S. dollar and … inflation.
Inflationary Force #2 New Lows in the U.S. Dollar
Last week, the U.S. dollar sunk to a new, one-year low against a basket of major currencies.
It’s just five points away from its lowest level in history.
And, as Mike Larson detailed this past Friday, the U.S. dollar is now being driven lower by a new, unprecedented factor:
For the first time since 1933, it is now cheaper to borrow dollars than Japanese yen. Indeed, the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) on the U.S. dollar has slumped to a meager 0.292 percent, while the equivalent rate on the Japanese yen is 0.352 percent.
This means that, instead of using Japanese yen to finance the carry trade — borrowing low-cost money to buy high-yielding investments — international investors will now start using U.S. dollars to finance the carry trade.
It means that, instead of the dollar being a magnet for frightened money, it is becoming precisely the opposite — a source of financing for the risk trade.
Most important, it means that, instead of buying dollars, they have every incentive to borrow dollars and promptly SELL them in order to purchase the higher yielding instruments.
End result: More momentum to the dollar’s decline.
Inflationary Force #3 U.S. Household Wealth Now Expanding Again
For nearly two years, U.S. households were continually losing wealth. They lost trillions in stocks, bonds, insurance policies, real estate. And these losses, in turn, emerged as a major deflationary force, driving consumer price inflation to zero or lower.
Now, however, in the second quarter of 2009, that trend has reversed.
According to the Fed’s Flow of Funds released just last week, in just the last three months, U.S. households have enjoyed wealth gains of
$1.1 trillion common and preferred stocks
$494 billion in mutual funds
$157 billion in real estate
These gains are still far from enough to recoup the peak asset levels of 2007. But the change in trend is enough to rekindle inflation, and that inflation is likely to take most economists by surprise.
Inflationary Force #4 Exploding U.S. Money Supply
Money pouring into the economy and chasing scarce goods is the classic cause of inflation.
But throughout 2007 and much of 2008, there was no growth whatsoever in U.S. money supply (M1).
During that period, despite the Fed’s efforts to shove interest rates down to practically zero, the total amount of money outstanding remained under $1.4 trillion — another deflationary force.
But first, I want to clear up a few basic points. Although we may sometimes disagree on the specific timing and magnitude of particular market moves, we are unanimous in our views about a few fundamental issues:
First, until and unless there is a dramatic change in these inflationary forces, it should be clear that the U.S. dollar’s decline will accelerate in the months ahead.
Second, despite its decline, the U.S. dollar will continue to be a viable, widely traded currency. It will not, as some seem to fear, simply disappear from the face of the earth.
Third, it is both impractical and unreasonable to abandon U.S. Treasury bills and other conservative dollar-denominated investments. They continue to provide U.S. citizens and residents the best safety and liquidity in the world today.
Fourth, the best way to protect yourself from a falling dollar is with contra-dollar investments such as precious metals, natural resources and assets tied to strong foreign currencies.
