Confidence among American consumers fell in February to a seven-month low as inflation expectations surged, according to the University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers, underscoring household concerns that price pressures may take longer to dissipate.
The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index fell to 67.8 from January’s 71.1, the lowest since July 2024, according to data released on Feb. 7.
“The decrease was pervasive, with Republicans, Independents, and Democrats all posting sentiment declines from January, along with consumers across age and wealth groups,” Joanne Hsu, director of Surveys of Consumers, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, households’ expectations for inflation over the next year jumped to 4.3 percent—the highest level since November 2023—up from 3.3 percent in January. Over the next five years, they anticipate inflation averaging 3.3 percent, marking the highest reading since June 2008, up slightly from 3.2 percent last month.
Hsu noted that a one-point rise in one-year inflation expectations is rare, occurring only five times in 14 years. The surge could complicate the Federal Reserve’s efforts to bring inflation back to its 2 percent target and reinforces the narrative that the central bank will hold interest rates higher for longer. On the day that the University of Michigan’s inflation expectations data was released, the probability that the Fed will holds rates steady at its next meeting in March jumped from 84 percent to 92 percent, per the CME Fed Watch tool, bolstering the higher-for-longer view. […]
— Read More: www.theepochtimes.com
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.
