Weekly Money & Metals Brief

Legendary economist Gary Shilling is warning that a U.S. recession may be "almost inevitable" by the end of 2026, pointing to a frozen housing market, weakening consumer spending, and a sharp slowdown in corporate investment. He also cautions that expensive stocks could be vulnerable to a major correction.

With oil prices sharply higher and the Strait of Hormuz still disrupted, analysts say higher energy costs could ripple through gasoline, airlines, manufacturing, fertilizer, food prices, and inflation-raising the risk of a broader recession if the crisis drags on.

Gold began to rebound from a recent pullback as investors viewed the pullback as a potential buying opportunity. Easing oil prices also helped support the move, while markets continue to watch economic data, inflation trends, Fed policy signals, and global headlines for the next major catalyst in gold's long-term momentum.

Tax season has a way of making people pay closer attention to what they keep and what they lose. First, you work for your income. Then a portion of that income goes to taxes. But for many Americans, that is not the only hit. What is left behind can quietly lose buying power over time …

Americans were already feeling stretched. Now, a new inflation warning is making that pressure harder to ignore. According to a recent CNBC report, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development now expects U.S. inflation to reach 4.2% in 2026, far above the Federal Reserve's 2.7% estimate. That is a major gap, and it shows just …

Gold's recent drop has rattled Americans who look to precious metals as a source of stability during uncertain times. On the surface, the move has been surprising. Gold fell hard even as geopolitical tensions, oil shocks, and global instability intensified. For many people, that seems backward. Gold is supposed to rise when the world gets …

For decades, central banks around the world have steadily accumulated gold as a way to protect against currency risk, inflation, and financial instability. Now, a similar trend is quietly emerging much closer to home. A small but growing number of U.S. states are beginning to treat gold not just as a commodity, but as a …

Recent economic headlines have painted a confusing picture of the U.S. economy. On one hand, stock markets remain strong, consumer spending continues to rise, and unemployment is relatively low. On the other hand, many Americans say they feel financially squeezed by rising costs for housing, groceries, and everyday necessities. Economists increasingly describe this phenomenon as …

Geopolitical conflicts often carry economic consequences that extend far beyond the region where they occur. The developing conflict involving Iran in 2026 is already raising concerns among economists and market analysts about energy prices, inflation, and potential pressure on the global economy. While the situation is still evolving, many analysts are closely watching how disruptions …

The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) is often called Wall Street's "fear gauge." It represents the market's expectation of stock market volatility over the next 30 days, based on prices of options tied to the S&P 500 index. Higher values mean traders expect bigger price swings; lower values suggest calmer markets. In practical terms: When the …

You may have seen recent headlines warning that the United States could be entering a "debt spiral." What that actually means is that the federal government is borrowing money faster than the economy is growing. At the same time, the cost of servicing that debt - the interest payments - is rising rapidly. When interest …

In recent weeks, an unusual surge in investors selling their physical gold and silver back into the market, often referred to in the industry as "buybacks", has temporarily outpaced the physical infrastructure required to process those transactions. This is because the precious metals market operates differently from paper markets, relying on secure shipping, verification, refining, …