February 20th, 2011 
Category: 
Welcome to the weekend edition, a small collection of links to interesting personal finance related articles and economic news from around the web.
It looks like the Federal Reserve should no longer be concerned about the economy running into a deflation (persistent drop in prices) as all the money printing has succeeded in eliminating this risk. In fact, maybe it’s time Ben starts considering worrying about inflation as it seems to be accelerating and getting increasing attention in the media.
January’s consumer-price index which measures the change in the price of goods and services purchased by consumers (inflation gauge) was released on February 17. The consumer-price index increased 0.4%, exceeding the 0.3% estimate while the core rate, which excludes food and fuel costs, rose 0.2%.
Excluding food and energy, it’s not that bad right? So maybe you should cut down on eating and fuel consumption and you’ll be just fine. On the other hand, you might want to make sure your portfolio is protected as inflation might only get worse.
Commodity ETFs, Gold, Silver and Oil(that would be me) in various investment forms are one way of doing it. How are you protecting your investments?
Economic roundup:
China gold demand growing at “explosive” pace
Inflation makes comeback as prices rise for food, fuel
Companies Warn That Higher Prices Are Looming
Clothing prices to rise 10 pct starting in spring
Rising Milk Prices Are ‘New Normal,’ Fonterra Says
Weekly blog roundup:
InvesItWisely presents 10 Innovative Ways You Can Invest in Real Estate
Sustainable Personal Finance has tens of sustainability tips to go through that I will let you discover. You can start discovering his site with one of the following articles:
· Your Dog’s Diet Could Cost You and Your Dog
· Giving to Charity – Sustainability for the Soul
· Don’t Lighten Your Wallet with Inefficient Lightbulbs
Home Security System Canada provides Canadian home owners information on how to feel secure in your house.
101Centavos provides an update Centavos Model Portfolio Update – February 16th, 2011
Investing Thesis interviews a portfolio manager who is Bull On Crude Oil, Bear On Natural Gas (same here)
The Righteous Investor on Hyperinflation is now here II: Food prices
Boomer and Echo has a different opinion with inflation rates are not as bad as they seem.
RetireBy40 got it all figured out with How To Retire By 40
BalanceJunkie has 7 questions for you in What’s Your Investment Personality?
Enjoy the Weekend!
Thanks for the mention(s) BTI!
Thanks very much for the mention Mich!
Hi Mich,
Am planning to publish later today or tommorrow – Yup increase in commidity prices and global growth = inflation.
I just finished writing a big long artcile on Global Inflation as well
Thanks for the link, Mich. All of the above for us. Gold, done. Silver, bought. Commodity ETFs, yes. Oil, working on it.
Thanks for the mention, Mich!
@All you’re welcome/
@DM, looking forward to reading your post!
Thanks for including me here Mich. I keep wondering whether this round of inflationary worries will end with a thud and new worries about deflation as it did in 2008. I wish I had a crystal ball!
Is it inflation that’s causing the high food prices or is it just a common case of supply and demand??
@Jeff: Yes, absolutely, it is supply and demand. Too many dollars chasing too few goods.
@Mich: thanks for link.
@BalanceJunkie, we are in one crazy roller coaster ride!
@Jeff, it’s exactly how PWD put it, too much $ chasing too few goods.
@PWD, you’re welcome!
I did go back for a look at skywest and did get some again-they did have more reserves than I realized.
Thanks-lol I think
Today I sold scs @2.80–for about the 6-7th time–wait until it goes down again.
I picked up some GNO and GFS today(reinvesting scs for now)and puzzling on more Anterra or more Reliable
@Larry, I am still sitting on my SCS, it was tempting in the 80′s but I believe the latest deal should push them up to $3 easily. Of course, with the state of the markets SCS could see $2.40 again this week!
Not familiar with GNO but I like GFS. It would be a long term hold butI never have enough money to assign for now.
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